Class 

Book 




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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



POEMS 



BY 



E. L. NOBLE 




BOSTON 

THE GORHAM PRESS 

1906 



Copyright 1906 by B. L. Nobi,E 



*A11 Rights Reserved 



UBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received ! 
r;OV 22 '906 
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The Gorham Press, Boston 



CONTENTS 



BOOK I 

The Poetic Spirit . . . . . 1 

A View of Life . . . . .4 

A Matrimonial View . . . . . 8 

BOOK II 

The Beauties and Powers That Be . .114 

BOOK III 

A Child of Nature 182 

Memory . . . . .. .197 

The Old And The New . . . . 200 

Love . . . . . . . . 202 

Liberty Bell 206 

To A Friend . ... . . 208 

To A Lady Friend . . . . .208 

To A Lady Friend After Visiting Her Home 209 
The Way 211 



THE POETIC SPIRIT 

Poetry's the quintessence of truth in fairest 
beauty clad, 

Magnetic hke connecting all that makes heart and 
soul most glad ; 

Or like some ether' al tube extending beyond 
bound of night, 

Through which we may drink essence of pure in- 
tellectual light ; 

Through which the soul doth gather wealth richer 
than the purest gold. 

Which purify and crystalize our being in purest 
mould. 
Poetry's that Spirit which inspires nature's 
vital powers 

To play in softest sweetest grandeur 'neath seques- 
ter' d bowers — 

Where silent joys spread a couch most magnifi- 
cent, pure and grand — 

Where bright sparkling waters babble pouring 
over golden sand : 

'Tis that spirit which emanates from the universal 
soul. 

While in order, eternal laws in sublimest beauty 
roll. 
Poetry's that grandeur that over the raging 
billows smile ; 

While the lightning flashes; all elements dash in 
torrents wild ; 

That holds serenest beauty o'er the most arid des- 
ert seen ; 

Where blue of the sky shows purest in the sun's 
resplendent beam. 
That silent majesty, which rule holds o'er 
primeval forest ; 

That grandeur of floral beauty, which in somber 
shades doth rest, 

Is poetic spirit, one imposing majestic greatness — 



Other, beauty in purity, resting in eternal stillness. 
That silence, which holds all in awe before 
the hurricane's rage. 

Is pictur'd in poetic beauty on many a fold'd page. 

That purest domestic life, which about each 
hearth-stone that steals, — 

Which, yet, rules hearts of men when time many 
a destiny seals : ^ 

That purest vernal beauty, which yet rules the 
heart as of yore, — 

Which ripens into autumnal wealth, nature's 
most lavish store : 

That deep pure silent love, which rules the fire- 
side, at winter's eve. 

Of the distant home of the cotter, which purest 
joys doth leave. 

Are lasting influences of pastoral love and beauty, 

Which are the deepest essence of parental love 
and duty. 
Elegance and dignity of life 're subjects of 
lyric themes ; 

The real daring and brave revel and soar in tragic 
dreams. 

Deepest truths and purest knowledge are taught 
in didactic verse ; 

Pure streams of love flow through the soul from 
the voice that can rehearse 

The powers that inspired the poet to produce 
such a rhyme — 

Which beauty flowing through the heart and re- 
flecting on the mind 

Exalting in ecstacy of soul, beyond this vale of 
tears ; 

And carrying to a state of bliss beyond this flight 
of years, 

Where poets alone doth live, while serving on 
probation here ; 

Where to enjoy light and beauty of the most ra- 
diant sphere. 



Deep and pure are poetic laws, yet, deeper still 
is its source — 

Pure and sweet are its influences ; more lovely, yet, 
its force — 

It is the deep essence of love flowing from a foun- 
tain-head ; 

Where to a purer, richer, source of life no stream 
hath e'er led. 
Any prose production may be given in rhyme 
and meter; 

Yet, it is not poetry, but, is only render'd sweeter. 

Language like metal, must be under many for- 
ges, wrought ; 

Each time show forth a deeper, and richer, 
and purer thought 

Until all dross and all baseness wholly extracted 
be, 

Thus and thus alone we pure poetic verse may 
hope to see. 
Each subject has a poetic side, but poets lone 
can view ; 

But of the subject in itself alone, this is never true ; 

The poetic side only can see in the Creator's plan; 

And the wonders view'd are but the plastic beau- 
ties of His hand. 

There is a poetic essence in every human speech. 

But how few are the minds that can that deep 
pure essence reach ? 

How sweet and lovely must be that speech, all 
dross extracted from, — 

Each word growing sweeter, — All forming a more 
elegant psalm. — • 

How great must be that knowledge, where only 
words most pure are heard ; 

Where by purer love and beauty the heart's being 
ever cheer' d. 



A VIEW OF LIKE 

By the kind assistance of a retrospect of life, 
I reclaim my happiest day and quietest night ; 
And live again youth's most blissful hour 
In softest shades of sweetest bower. 
Cooled by the gentlest breeze that sways 
The dark green leaves of the growing maize ; 
Enraptured by sweetest song sung in nature's way ; 
Enticed by the softest hues of floral display ; 
Enchanted by fragrance of fairest flowers that 

blow; 
Entomb'd by the verdant grandeur of forest show. 

Again I lie in a quiet pensive dream 
On a cool mossy brink of a gurgling stream, — 
View the limpid waters flowing in silv'ry sheen ; 
And with equal delight drink in the forest green. 
I now awake from my sleeping state, 
And pursue with joy the long spent chase — 
Drawn on by the fond exspectation of hope ; 
Eagerly climb the brow of the rocky slope, 
And follow on til I have securely reached 
The dazzling summit of the loftiest peak — 
While proudly on that glowing hight I stand — 
Survey beneath the vales of drifting sand ; 
Intercept' d by the rivulets' sparkling strand ; 
Dotted by solitary abodes of man. 
From the crags below comes the eaglets' clamo- 
rous cry ; 
Silenc'd by a motherly voice from depths of the 

sky; 
And turning to gaze on the bird of supreme flight, 
The surrounding landscape fades in dimness of 
sight. 
Here comes a glimmering light of the contract- 
ed sphere of man ; 
Broaden' d only through magnetism of that hea- 
venly mind, 
Who, from the throne of his majesty on high, 

8 



Scans all things with the sight of a perfect eye ; 

As they here in this dusky vault' d chamber range, 

To detect if any to nature have grown strange. 
In the paradise of God, or garden of primi- 
tive man. 

An image of creation in primeval beauty yet 
stands ; 

Will continue Heaven's jewel for returning pil- 
grims to wear ; 

And thus all the host of heaven must appear in 
alike attire. 

Of all the rich gifts of that most beautiful land 

There's no sweeter than that enabling us to stand 

In the likeness of God, — true image of man. 
My heart with true rev'rence being deeply 
embued ; 

I turn from the trail of the game before pursued, 

To follow in the path marked and lighted by truth 

Instead of wasting life chasing phantoms of youth. 
I have travers'd this world in search of a retreat 

Where favors of life flourish in fragance most 
sweet, 

And find that place is not in air, on sea or land. 

If it depends on satisfying the greed of man. — 

But, for a man of generous heart and benevolent 
way; 

Control' d by that beauty and that art to which 
nature gives sway ; 

With these principles to control, for life of refine- 
ment and ease. 

There is no place more in v' ting than the shade of 
Kentucky's trees. 

Beneath which flourishes a grass of a bright bluish 
green; 

Producing softest carpet that in nature's to be 
seen; 

Where the birds are at home in the boughs over 
head 



Pouring their souls in music, which silence man's 

tread, — 
Which draws his admiration from the most bliss- 
ful scenes below 
To connect his affections with joys of perpetual 

flow. 
Among the loveliest flowers that bloom in valley, 

glen or glade ; 
Protected from a vernal sun, many wooing lovers 

strayed ; 
And they speaking in love's softest lowest tone. 
Yet, sweeter voices from blushing violets come, — 
To the wooing of lovers lend an alluring power 
To bring a confession of love at an earlier hour ; 
And thus speed on to an earlier end 
Vanity of women, — fickleness of men. — 
The bereav'd may listen to the dove's doleful 

songs 
Repeating the joys and sorrows, which life pro- 
longs; 
In notes inimitable by another voice or tongue. 
Either in rising sweetness or for a more plaintive 

moan.— 
A voice, beyond doubt, that heaven ever hears, 
Because it speaks truer penitence than tears. 
In earth's wide domain there's no plain, valley 

or hight. 
Which contrast more perfectly the beauties of light, 
Than an exceeding great mountain slope cloth' d 

in an evergreen robe ; 
Fring'd above, carpeted below by the pure white 

of falling snow : 
One an emblem of purity ; other of constancy and 

strength, 
vShowing what worth spiritual power to physical 

has lent ; 
Or how this tenement of clay is most beautified 
When the mantle of wisdom to its purpose is plied. 



10 



Yet, this contrasting scene's rendered more excel- 
lent and bright, 

When crown' d by the frosty diadems of a still 
clear night : 

Like a face beaming with the radiance of a heart's 
delight, 

So this scene smiles sweetest while immerging from 
the shades of night. 

Bowing with reverence to the great ruler of day 

As he spans the blue dome in his diurnal display ; 

By his gentle touch transforming the hoar-frost 
of former age ; 

With equal kindness marking end of the philoso- 
pher and sage. 

The sun's the great wonderful arch calendar of 
man; 

To mark the beginning and end of this mortal 
strand — 

Gathering to himself all influence of starry or 
lunar light, 

Has given seasons to mark the divisions of vege- 
table life ; 

Only, true history giving in order epochs of time ; 

Showing how one age would build up, and another 
would cast down ; 

Proving that works of man in disorder ever appear, 

But, he who works as God has order' d finds nothing 
to fear. 
When humanity will have filled its course ; 

The burning sun to mortal sight be lost ; 

This clayey mould quickened to eternal life, 

And clothed in a robe of pure celestial white ; 

Then this mortal age from which we all soon must 
pass 

'LI be less than a night's watch in that eternal 
last. 
In life I view for man a happier lot than mor- 
tal tongue can tell. 



11 



Whose mind is ruled by constant peace, that from 

eternal truth hath fell 
Into the heart that causes a virtuous stream to 

incessantly flow, 
And water all the heavenly flowers, in human life 

is wont to grow. 
If man'll cultivate those celestial plants for moral 

worth, 
He will gather from this life no fruit of a common 

birth. 



A MATRIMONIAL VIEW 

Madam, seeing in life you're young and fair. 
Of temper most sweet and manner most rare ; 
In knowledge wise, — understanding clear — 
So I trust you will my story hear. 
I'll speak what experience has taught, 
In language quaint and by reason fraught ; 
But, not as a gift of chance or an idle thought ; 
But, to supply necessity the mind has wrought 
Things most beautiful if finished by art of school. 
Which I have been forc'd to learn at ignorance's 

stool ; 
Taught by the rough instructors of demand and 

supply. 
On invention's mother, to ever wait and rely, 
For the ready reward of a helping hand 
To supply with ample gifts ev'ry demand. 

Madam, these things you will do well to hear, 
Since they'll enable you to see more clear 
Barriers, which in your path must fall. 
No matter how calm the waves may roll. 
Now, if you have a stronger hand 
To guide you by the broken strand ; 
Through the strait of whirling tides, 
Where life's sweetest gift e'er glides 
Into the sea of calm repose ; 

12 



Where human bliss etern'ly flows : 
You'll receive in nature greater share 
Of the gifts she has to offer there. 

Sir, while I to you may seem thus fair 
'Tis because you're old and can't see clear. 
There are no charms, Sir, to possess, 
Save such as 'dom the human breast. 

I'm always ready to hear a story told ; 
So that it relates not to the story old. 
For which Eve's been faulted by human kind, 
Because she had in her love grown blind. 
In admiration for that manly form. 
Which did Eden's garden with grace adorn. 

It is true, or always so appear. 
That women will love what seems most queer — 
So 'twas with Eve in her beauty array, 
That she show'd the same weakness we display; 
Then, such, I hope not to endure, 
Less manly form be godly pure. 

Your instructions 're from an instructor true, 
Who ever instructs from a needed view ; 
To strenthen and help a weary hand, 
That e'er seeks to know the better plan. 
I well know such things are most pleasing to hear, 
Since they'n make life's realities seem more dear : 
Then if to ev'ry step we give a known charm, 
As the way brightens the heart will grow most 

warm. — 
But, what pleasure to you to gather the same 

flower 
Plucked by you in an earlier and happier hour ? 
I am told, for pleasures to be true. 
That they must also be wholly new ; 
That life will not gather from abroad 
The things, which it of itself has throw' d — 
But will pursue its course in a stronger road ; 
Just as the human form bends beneath its load. 
'Tis true, that under the guide of a stronger 

hand 

13 



We may be carried to a purer happier land ; 
But, while, if you from your course turn back 
It will surely from your life detract 
The higher, purer, sweeter joy. 
That thrills the heart without alloy. 

Madam, I have passed the age of middle life ; 

Find to be truly happy, must have a wife. 

That the cares and disappointments, which daily 
come. 

Be absorb'd in blissful scenes of a happy home ; 

Where the strength of man may support a lovely 
queen. 

Who may rule a palace grand in a garden green ; 

Direct gentle hands with a tender air 

To render the scene most extremely fair, 

Which would be most dreary and dismally dark ; 

But, for the peace and the grace thy charms im- 
part. 
Finding life's current to strong in ev'ry part 

To stem its raging flood in a half -man' d bark ; 

So I will ask you to help me expel life's dark ; 

That, in love's eternal day, in safety's ark. 

We may sail together o'er life's troubled waves; 

From road of disappointment turn our ways. 

Sir, to have reciprocated with you in such a 

bright hope, 
I would have delighted, before you pass'd on life's 

shady slope ; 
But, instead of budding in love and flushing with 

youth. 
You are turning from the page recording love's 

sweet truth. 
To where life's sad evening story is told 
Of dead hopes buried in the deceit of gold. 
What I now live for in your life is past ; 
What I delight in, from your bosom's cast: 



14 



Unless we can travel the same road at the same 

time ; 
To each other's pleasures and enjoyments we'll be 

blind: 
Unless, in uni ted bliss, we enjoy life's charm, 
Then otherwise a union our pleasures would 

harm, — 
My way of living wouldn't your course adorn ; 
And at my pleasures you would cast a scorn. 

Madam, true 'tis I have passed the meridian 

of age, 
While, in the mysteries of life, I hope to grow more 

sage ; 
And as the shadows of age, in the distance may 

fall, 
In light of reason and truth, I trust to grow more 

tall; 
Till I can look into highest realm of man ; 
And a God- given dame b}^ my side may stand 
Strong in the pure deep bonds of God's own heart's 

love. 
As were Adam an Eve in mansions above ; 
And from there look down the dim years that roll 
As humanity fades in God's pure soul. 

Instead of passing from the page recording 

love's worth 
I am engaging now in a richer, sweeter search 
For pure principles of love, which should engage 
The true faculties of man to calm his rage 
In affections as pure ; as sweet ; as good, 
As were first ordain'd in our love we should — 
'Tis true that many a desire for principles 

free from rust 
Have been disarmed, dethron'd and defeated by 

lucrative lust ; 
Which are not dead hopes buried in gold's deceit, 
But the sowers finding their harvest to reap ; 
For as is truly said, "God is not deceived, " 
But, kind of seed sow'd, the harvest will reveal. 

15 



Wheat will not grow barley, you know of a truth ; 

Neither will vice or folly virtue produce — 

Then, since the seed sow'd the harvest will rule; 

So life's principles do our end control. 

'Tis also true less we gather our pleasures 
from same source, 

That, otherwise, a dissevering of hearts it will force ; 

While, for two hearts to be united in a like pursuit 

They must not, over things true to humanity, dis- 
pute ; 

But find unit'd bliss in a principle, which leads 

From death's dark chasm to the light of most no- 
ble deeds ; 

Where selfishness and sordidness will like fade 
away 

Beforejamore bouyant light of apureceaselessray — 

Then, each of our way of living would others course 
adorn ; 

Nor in the rough rugged scenes of life would we 
grow forlorn ; 

But each give testimony to sweeter pleasures in 
truth. 

Than such as add grace and beauty to the blushes 
of youth. 

vSir, your position in the matter I most clearly 

see; 
But, the ideal's e'er brighter than the real can 

be.— 
If life could be as enchanting as you describe 
Above the angels of light we mortals would ride ; 
And sport before God in an elysian scene ; 
In a realm beyond where the seraphs have been ; 
In joys surpassing the description of tongue ; 
And pleasures far greater than angels have sung. 
W^e poor mortals are not prepar'd for such bliss, 
Else we would not be plac'd in a world like this ; 
Where every one would be the judge of his foe,— 
Justify his friend in foulest sin— deepest woe,— 

16 



Say there is no good, save such as we give 
To our friends in the deceit that we Hve. 

Love's course you know is a bewildering way, 
Destin'd to allure and lead all mortals 'stray ; 
From all principles of reason to lament and sigh ; 
Without reality of pleasure in life to try. 
For you know it is taught the object of our love to 

gain 
Is the towering hight of each and ev'ry human 

plain ; 
Where sets a decaying hope to eternally wain, 
Just as ev'ry monument erect' d to worldly fame, 
"is mark'd by time when to totter and fall; 
So vain things have timely destiny — all. 
'Tis also said that affections will waste 
In each admiring glance for any fair face, — 
That he, who's fancied many, can really love none ; 
Since the life of his affections is wholly undone. 
Principle like that, when scatter'd, is as a broken 

urn. 
Eternally fixed without hope or promise of return ; 
Or as a stream flows by singing one sweet song, 
Which's carried as an echo in life so long ; 
So's a fair face that takes from our affections one 

touch,— 
It has robb'd the true strength of that principle 

so much. 

Madam, real'ties of life are far greater than we 
can suppose ; 
The ideal is only a shadowing to him who best 

knows 
The rewards of living by pure principles of 

love, — guided by truth, 
Which's a perpetual growing into grander myster- 
ies of youth ; 
While the close of this life will bring us in sight 
Of a brighter, grander, sweeter, purer Hght : 
Our souls be set in the purest plight, — 

17 



On pinnions of love to wing their flight, 
Through purer worlds of joy's unbounding way ; 
Life grows sweeter as brighter grows the day. 
If our souls be set on fire by God's pure love 
'Twill folly, deceit and corruption remove ; 
Just as the refining of gold destroys the dross ; 
And separates the pure metal from out the gross. 
If we accept pure essence of truth as light of the 

soul. 
Our lives will shine like apples of silver set in pure 

gold, 
To give light to all those who are walking in the 

dark; 
Prosecuting in ignorance an uncertain work ; 
Purporting, in life, to be work of the man, 
Who has not felt the touch of a ruling hand 
vSupremely fitted by that all guiding mind 
To lead through the boundless age of endless 

time. — 
Most glorious scenes,— over fields of golden sand 
And wash'd by pure streams of light extremely 

bland. 
Love, without virtue, purity and truth to guide, 
Will e'er cause humanity to falter and slide 
Into chasms that be most dark and deep ; 
In death's deepest gloom to ever weep 
And sigh for death, with her promised boon, 
To come and hurry to ceaseless doom ; 
Where life has no further joys or pains to give, — 
Life shall cease to be, or mortals ne'er again live — 
In death be etern'ly dying and sinking in woe ; 
And while age rolls on such agonies deeper grow. 
While love in its purity has the sweetest clime 
For mortals to etern'ly rise through ceaseless time, 
In worlds of bliss' highest dazzling charms, — 
Free on life's bosom from raging storms ; 
To move onward and upward in love's eternal 

peace ; 
Where sighing and where sorrowing will forever 

cease : 

18 



Into higher joys Hfe will ceaselessly roll 

Onward through the mansions of love's cherished 

goal — 
Where all things calm in one perfect truth — 
Of love's lasting virtue — God's own youth. 

It is true that affections may vanish in waste 
When they do not the real' ties of life embrace ; 
For all that be not, by a true anchor of hope, 
Stay' d within the bosom of virtues bounding scope, 
Must pass into the realm of forgetfulness to dwell — 
And roll on with a sigh, — without a lasting fare- 
well — 
Into the home of deceit, where held at its worth 
By the devel's foulest mist'ries, — in deepest 

search, — 
For the most dreaded weapon of hell to disown ; 
Thing to herself for'er and lastingly unknown : 
Or in hell search after the thing deepest in waste ; 
To the devil offer thing bitterest of taste, 
It will be the thing in time, having no purpose to 

give; 
Or in ages unbounded exist with no life to live, — 
In days unending having nothing to know. 
Since out of nothing, what can, but nothing grow ? 
Then, since deceit be the chief of hell's ways 
To bring her miseries unending days; 
So afifections in truth will e'er augment 
Through gathering ages of joy unspent, — 
Into a bright' ning day of purest light, — 
Further being remov'd from woes of night ; 
Till mortals forget sorrow e'er had reign ; 
Or man in his age had ever a pain : 
Nor shall we never look back to see what has been. 
But ever look forward through a brightening scene 
To enjoy, through days infinite and unspeakably 

grand, 
The golden pleasures leading over heaven's peace- 
ful strand ; 
Laden with fragrance embalming into heaven's 
light 

19 



The obedient soul, which ascends, in silent flight, 

Affection's bright, and alluring, and towering 
hope, — 

In love's tender influence to be willingly lost. 
There is a fault in love to be found invariably- 
such, 

That love, beyond merit of principle, finds no 
heart to touch ; 

But, perish in a sad refrain, since no bonds declare 

Of love with principles that ne' er did existence wear. 

For love to be true virtue, a guiding star, must 
surely stand 

As a sun holding two planets by affection's strong- 
est band, — 

Wrought by love's tenderest influence,— nature's 
most lasting power,^ 

Which' s foundation and structure of humanity's 
greates tower. 
If life becomes love for virtue's pure sake 

'Twill ev'ry faculty of truth awake 

To the real and progressive scenes of life, — 

As a gathering influence free from strife ; 

Hoarding the mercantile products of life in boun- 
teous store, 

To deal with a charitable hand to the needs of the 
poor ; 

For what is paid by charity, with respect to God's 
love. 

Is restored most bounteful in peace by the white 
wing'd dove. 
I have long felt in life a void that I trusted time 
would supply, — 

lyong, but in vain, I have tried that tender influence 
to defy, — 

The stronger I resist, of its worth I am more con- 
sciously taught, — 

Without which the beauties and splendor of life 
will pass into naught. 



20 



In life there's a ne'er dying union to be misteri- 

ously wrought 
From the deUcate love of women and masculine 

features more rough, 
Which perpetuates life in the fairest principles of 

youth ; 
Establishing life in the lasting unerring joys of 

truth : 
That institution of Eden, that from earth hath 

not yet fled ; 
But, the purity of life neglected and its beauty 

dead, — 
In our hearts, it seems to me, we can that Eden 

again revive ; 
Rest within that ancient bower of love, where all 

such beauties thrive, 
Which produce rich fruits of peace; the fairest 

wealth of earthly store. 
Carrying with it the brightest gems of Eden's an- 
cient lore. 

Sir, love to be appreciat'd must surely be known 
With respect to the element from which it has grown ; 
Under beauty and luster spreading profus'dly 

round. 
From the jewel- pressed brow, which is with ele- 
gance crowned 
By rubies of purest light gath'ring true renown ; 
Which in search of intellect's fairest gem was found 
Set in the heart of nature's purest gold. 
Which ever the merits of truth unfold ; 
As a never fading light to sink in the west 
From the pallatial scenes of the home it'd blest, — 
But still be the light mortal sos to guide 
O'er death's yawning gulf gainst its rushing tide; 
While truth does the disasters of folly deride ; 
As it hurries unmolest'd in admiring pride ; 
Where sets the lasting ruby of life 
In the purest depths of spotless white. 

21 



Love you know is the tenderest part of the 

spirit and soul,— 
'Tis Hfe's golden property perfecting two hearts 

as of old. 
When they were but one in Adam, the man, 
Love was pure and perfect in sweetest plan ; 
Possessing all the tender faculties of the human 

race; 
All the holy principles of virtue did that heart 

embrace, — 
All that be pure in feminine affection and mascu- 
line life 
Were wrought into love and made a perfect power 

and lasting light. 
Then, what is holy and true in one is perfect to 

the other ; 
So love embraces affections of parent, sister and 

brother : 
But, when all that is truly feminine was to itself 

made a part 
It carried with it the influence that controls and 

refines man's heart. 
Man solicits his ideal of beauty, love and art 
To supply that void and be in his life that better 

part. 
In woman's heart and mind there is ever dwell- 
ing, so sweet and still, 
A desire to resume that place she'n so well and 

fittingly fill. 
In man, at fourteen some faculties mature, of that 

void's conciously told ; 
And to supply and to please the soul, he seeks that 

vacated gem of old : 
Woman at twelve, somewhat confident she can 

that void supply ; 
Listens with patience to the strange story, with a 

heaving sigh ; 
When told that she is all for which man's heart 

doth yearn, — 

22 



Without her his Hfe will languish, grow cold and 

stem, — 
She being thus solicited, that vacancy to supply. 
With a faithful heart and in tender words answers, 

I will try ; 
If it be to form a union, such as in Bden's bliss. 
Gave refinement and social pleasure to a life like 

this; 
Such as God approved and delighted to see 
Before mortals tast'd fruit of forbidden tree ; 
But, not such as infest 'd soul and mind. 
Since contention they were bent to find ; 
To disturb the peace of man, and provoke the 

wrath of God 
By accepting as life's realities, a falt'ring love, 
Instead of such love as join'd their hearts and 

lives 
In union acceptable to One most wise ; 
Such as freed from jealous rage and bitter tears ; 
Keeping pure the heart and soul through length of 

years, — 
If your intention be to enter that blissful state, 
Then, both in heart and hand, let our lives be 

joined by faith ; 
And if we fail to find truth sufficient to restore 

that ideal bliss. 
May we be happy, as were Isaac and Rebecca, in 

life like this. 

Madam, true 'tis we should know the source 

from whence our affections rise ; 
That source should be such that we could in no 

way justly despise ; 
But, so pure that our love would ever more richly 

increase ; 
Thus ever making life a current of augmenting 

peace 
Flowing qui'tly to that great calm ocean of endless 

years 

23 



Filled with essence of pleasures most pure, — un- 
mingled with tears, ^ 

The true splendor of the home, but so infrequently 
there. 

That in the family circle it has no place or share. 

Love should have an altar from whence in union 
our hearts could rise 

To mingle in such pleasures as have their rest be- 
yond the skies ; 

Where angel's fond hearts commingle in pure 
essence of love 

With hearts and with lives more constant and 
more true than the widowed dove. 
Since beauty and purity of thy life in words are 
known ; 

I wish to know the social commerce of thy parents' 
home: 

And there see you, a fostered plant of domestic 
care. 

Who the pure elegance of social refinement wear ; 

Where the grandeur of religion must smile most 
pure and sweet ; 

Where elegance, grandeur and purity in union 
meet 

To set thy home above the course of unholy things ; 

Where wealth of celestial beauty eternally clings, — 

Which robes the mind with magnificence of per- 
petual peace ; 

Where domes of immaculate beauty, to rise, will 
never cease. 
A caller at thy home it would much delight me to 
be found. 

Where such grandeur and elegance of life do most 
richly bound ; 

And on Thursday next, if you will grant this re- 
quest. 

In thy tranquil home, I trust to serenely rest. 

Sir, your letter, mingling pleasure and surprise, 

24 



Has just this moment been opened to my eyes ; 
And, of purest grandeur, it seems so rich and full. 
That the elegance of heaven doth downward pull. 
And for you to call at our home of simplicity and 

ease. 
On Thursday next, my parents permit and me 

'twill truly please . 

Her letter composed, with befitting modest, gave 
to post — 
To make her home glow with artless attraction, 

no time she lost. 
When the expected visitor, on that morning, ap- 
peared 
Pure magnificence shown, but artless as song of a 
bird. 
Sir, with my father you, I will acquainted make. 
Sir, much respect awaits you for my daughter's 

sake. 
Not a more desirable gift. Sir, you have to give. 
Sir, to pay her highest honors, I shall ever live. 
My mother. Sir, the splendor of this home, you 
now may greet ; 
Grace, grandeur and elegance in her life with con- 
cord meet. 
Madam, for you, this fills my heart with respect 
most pure ; 
To doubt woman's majesty, be this a perfect cure. 
To know you. Sir, I'm pleased, here a true wel- 
come you shall find 
Befitting your dignity of soul ; supremacy of mind. 
Thy home is bless' d with all that's good ; no 
superfluities are here ; 
Purity, the intrinsic beauty of all, here is shown 

most clear. 
Beauty lavishly spread, to satiate unlawful lust 

and pride. 
Becomes a hurtful curse — scatters the true wealth 
of life far and wide. 

25 



With true economy and useful science, thy home 
is dressed ; 

No luxur'us pomp or volupt'ous habit claims 
sweets of rest : 

The just demands of life, with purest wealth, are 
supplied most true ; 

O, bless' d earth, to feed unnatural want, nothing 
cumbers you. 

The needs of the poor are drafts ever honor' d by 
charity ; 

To the poor all is loan'd with God's promise for 
security. 

To supply God opens nature's universal store ; 

And here her ceaseless wealth and eternal beauty 
pour. 
To leave the city built on pole of land hemisphere, 

The center of wealth and commerce, what attrac- 
tion here? 
To see a home restor'd to the ancient purity of 
human bliss 

Is far more alluring than the affluence of many 
worlds like this. 

Before leaving England's pride, her shining domes 
I stopp'd to view ; 

Saw the broad avenues of commerce fill'd with a 
thronging crew ; 

No respect or honor was shown humanity true, 

But to luxur'us wealth and pomp seem'd all honor 
due. 

On the overhanging cloud plaid the morning's 
ancient hue ; 

Unfaded beauties of the sun showed in the spark- 
ling dew ; 

But, the splendor of London is not so perpetual 
and pure, — 

England's glory is evanescent ; her vitals are wast- 
ing sure. 

The pendent boughs to summer breeze, most audi- 
bly seem to say, 

26 



England has reached her zenith and now is fast 

fading away. 
Ten centuries from now, we know not what re- 
cord this nation' 11 bear — 
What of great Babylon,— which was seated — we 

can never know where ? 
Upon the great Euphrates, she sat, and her com- 
merce did play 
On the great deep, — gath'ring wealth from 

nations in distance 'way : 
Over her the sun, in his ancient majesty, moved 

unchanged ; 
Beneath her that noble river roll'd in grandeur to 

the main : 
But, now her place is fore'er lost; her influence 

most vain ; 
And that proud daughter of the Chaldees lives but 

in a name. 
Of thee, somber forest, once covering this fairest 

isle from sea to sea, — 
Making a trackless solitude, this noble oak's a sad 

relic of thee ; 
And not unlike thee, O oak, most stately, grand 

and noble tree ; 
(Whereon the bird of supremacy has set his prey 

to see), 
Is this home, a fragment from that state of felicity, — 
(Which was wasted by allurements of the forbid- 
den tree) ; 
Where rest the more glorious emblem, that of 

purity. 
Ye parents of this damsel dear, my mission 

here shall know; 
While in this calm serene, life's meditated joys 

shall flow. 
As it is plain to see my years are more than fancy 

loves ; 
But, congenial souls contagious fire more often 

moves 

27 



To commingle in higher realms of peace and light ; 
In truth and reason free from fancy's shades of 

night, 
Than they who are by lust and admiration led 
To revel in the pleasures of the marriage bed. 
Your daughter and I are drawn by truth's mag- 
netic force 
To unity of life in reason's deep tranquil source ; 
Such we believe is love, and only such should 

wed 
As have been led by truth to that great fountain 

head — 
And by contagion of that pure celestial fire. 
Their hearts and souls been purged to life's most 

pure desire : 
Now, this we make the condition of our future life. 
And 'tis for you to say whether we have judged 

aright. 
The character portrai'd by your letters we've 

consider' d well ; 
Yet, your address in person a purer stream of life 

doth swell. 
This home's of that same birth, but not in such 

depth of soil fixed ; 
It is of a pure growth ;with no adulteration mixed. 
But, can never tower in those celestial fields 
Where the tree of life such wonderful fruitage 

yields. 
My daughter, Sir, in marriage, you may truly 

claim 
To journey with you over fields of greater fame — 
More perfect scenes, our hearts with you will pon- 
der o'er. 
And live in realms of light of pure eternal lore. 
Your hopes, which carry you with us through 

such realms of bliss ; 
Strong must be to surpass colloquial scenes like 

this, 



28 



Which can only be by passing into God's eternal 

peace ; 
Where purer richer scenes of life can never have 

end or cease. 
Then let the priest come forth— testimony of 

these hearts receive ; 
And pray heaven that for wrongs intended these 

souls may never grieve. 
By the faith here phghted and testimonies of 

this life, 
In holy bonds of wedlock, I pronounce you man 

and wife. 
I do here certify that time itself can ne'er erase 
The vow here made; principles and gem these 

hearts embrace. 
But, shall stand before the Father through the 

eternal age, — 
The elegance of life, or just cause of the deepest 

rage. 
Such pure deep and perfect joys life hath never 

wore ; 
Heaven seems more embracing than ever before : 
In my heart it seems that Flora has pour'd all her 

tender wealth ; 
And more grandeur and elegance of life, no soul 

hath e'er felt. 
Life is now replete, what is there that can embel- 
lish more ? 
Of all most refining, it needs but in the heart to 

pour. 
This life I so embellish, I will love and cherish 

ever ; 
In Christ be so united that death itself cannot 

sever ; 
Through Christ flow into that most noble and ma- 
jestic life. 
That bears no mark of toil,— etern'ly free from 

woe and strife. 



29 



THE BEAUTIES AND POWERS THAT BE. 

There's a way to the plain of fame unknown, 
That way is not dotted by blood or stone ; 
But, clear to the knowledge of One who made 
The wild mountain rose to nod in the shade ; 
Perfect to Him who by his wisdom profound 
Created the pure lily from dust of ground. 
That road is wonderfully narrow and bright; 
Illuminat'd by pure elements of light; 
Paved by principles most perfect and true; 
The way it leads is pleasant to pursue — 
And if you give attention to the things by the way 
You will see and hear the beauties which wisdom 

display ; 
The things which you hear and see to bid adieu 
Will tempt you to linger for a longer view — 
Don't stay, there are brighter things to engage the 

sight 
Than the mere beams in which fancy finds its 

delight ; 
Things so perfect and wonderfully true 
That they dazzle the mind as well the view. 
When you have reached that plain by the path 

of the just. 
Your foot prints '11 not be traceable in mud or 

dust; 
But found in accordance with principles that laid 
Foundation of earth and by which heaven was 

made, 
And in nowise contrary to principles that create 
The smallest plant; the most stupendous weight 

hold in space. 
On that plain are things you should behold, 
For the same things are both new and old — 
Ancient in having their beginning with good ; 
New, since not before seen, or they understood. 
Things which need not polish to keep ever shining 

and new; 

30 



That need not remod'ling to keep perfect with all 

things true. 
These things are perfect principles, — most delicious 

food for the soul, 
Which causes man to seek the true riches more 

pure and precious than gold. 
Introduction of these elements to the mind brings 

eve to that night. 
Which keeps closed the portals of soul through 

which comes the emission of light; 
And not unlike the time when God's command 

was, " Let there be light," 
Which wrought destruction to obscurity — was 

morning of sight. 
Here set the seven pillars which wisdom has 

well hewn; 
Their depth of foundation, no human mind can 

presume ; 
These pillars are not carved from stone or from 

wood. 
But from power that sent and abat'd the flood; 
The work was not performed by hand weak or 

frail ; 
Or devised by a mind that doubts such a tale. 
But wrought by Him who collected all solids into 

mass ; 
And separated each fluid according to its class ; 
Decreeing that by the union of elements of fluids 

with the earth. 
If connected with other influences would produce 

vegetable birth — 
From perfect knowledge and equal power these 

pillars came ; 
And on this foundation's erected the temple of 

fame. 
Just how the materials of the pillars and temple 

unite and blend 
Cannot be detected by human sight or understood 

by carnal mind, 

31 



But, the beginning and ending is there made plain 

To him who will accept of the Almighty's plan. 
These works are His, whose works alone are 
perfect and true ; 

But cannot be comprehended from a worldly view. 

The walls are of stone most precious and bright, 

Of equal width, of exact weight and height; 

Placed in exact relation with regard to their con- 
nection with light. 

That the coloring and reflection of each render 
others more bright: 

These walls are most beautiful and pleasing to 
sight. 

When eliminated from influences of night. 
The temple is paved with purest gold more 
transparent and lucid than glass. 

Which obstructs not light's passage, but enabling 
each in beauty to surpass 

Their individual splendor ; like flowers sweeter 
than the petals cast; 

Which blending with purest colors, grander beauty 
each blending brings to pass ; 

While augmenting in beauty ever growing purer 
and more sublime; 

Rising in richer domes of grandeur, rivaling never 
ending time. 

The light doth purity of each color more perfectly 
display ; 

While the glittering of such beauty helps in per- 
fecting the day: 

The relation of each to the whole is an indispens- 
able thing, 

For the influence of such connecting beauty per- 
fection doth bring. 

To shelter this temple, there is needed no roof ; 

There's nothing higher, nor anything more aloof, 

Except the great Artificer whose principles shine 
on all things below; 



32 



Thus bring to naught the vanity of pride and the 

world's vain hope in show ; 
For by Him things 're brought to a reckoning 

exactly as they are ; 
And thus we find that to act in the true light is 

better by far. 
If we stand before the world and God as we be ; 
Act regarding all things by the truth that we see ; 
Do not despise work of the hand that did us create ; 
And gave a mind to find how we to all things re- 
late — 
And if from pure love of obedience to right, that 

relation, we keep. 
The loveliness of that temple, we may behold, and 

in it have a seat. 
All who live in deceit ; and in falsehood ; and in 

doubt ; and thus grow vain, 
Had better, from ent'ring that temple, or seeking 

its beauty, refrain — 
Unless they will live and walk in the light of 

beauty, which it doth reflect, 
Otherwise, happiness and pleasure would be a 

crime longer to expect: 
Then let us no longer hope that our crimes are 

buried from sight ; 
But know, for certainty, that we're to be tested 

by true light. 
In the center of the temple is situated the throne. 
On which sits the One whose beginning and ending 

cannot come ; 
In whom all principles are perfect, which perfec- 
tion true power doth lend 
To give exact weight to all acts of man — by his 

acts establish his end : 
If man's end be established by the works of his 

hand. 
And that end be destruction, he can blame no one 

but man; 



33 



Or, if man's acts in the scale of justice be heaviest 

for good 
He has no one to thank for that blessing save the 

Almighty God : 
Because he was right in taking to himself all 

principles of good; 
Relating them so perfectly as to make their chief 

influence love ; 
Wise in rejecting the dark and his principles 

wrought into perfect light, 
That darkness and its influence might be expelled 

from obstruction of sight, — 
For, if the principles of good and evil had not been 

set apart. 
And thus show that influence of light is destruc- 
tive to that of dark, 
Man could have never known the sorrows evil doth 

bring, 
Or the joys that to the path of the righteous doth 

cling; 
The world would have been without pleasure and 

joy, the just a reward; 
The transgressor, in the evil of his way, would 

not have grown tired : 
Man would 've been related to himself and the 

confusion of things ; 
Empires would've been built on the destruction 

of people and kings ; 
Regard for human life and happiness wouldVe 

been the least of things that be. 
Since destruction of happiness would render the 

gath'ring of gold more free ; 
The sight of all high principles would ' ve been lost 

in the selfishness of man ; 
Desolation and heaping of riches been only virtues 

of the land. 
By collecting all the elements of light into one 

cardinal good ; 



34 



Thus making the relation of all things to that 

principle understood, 
Has caused man to turn from the mist of the shade 

of the realm of night 
And journey to that land which is most beautiful 

to perfect sight ; 
There to seek a home by accepting the wisdom 

and ways of God, 
Who properly relating all, established universal 

good. 
The throne on which the Almighty doth sit is 

a structure most wonderful ; 
If, to all things create compared, — of material 

found most beautiful ; 
The workmanship by which it was wrought is 

without imperfection or dot ; 
Nor could there be other beauty or perfection 

create that it hath not — 
The material from which this throne is made, in 

perfection so great, 
Has even puzzled the ministers, and those who are 

enthron'd in state ; 
And these men have wondered how such a thing 

can be, 
So great that their minds can't conceive, or optics 

see: 
Now the reason is this, their eyes are train' d to 

seek for the glitter of gold; 
Their hearts forc'd to believe, any means employ'd 

to possess hurt not the soul; 
So by forcing their hearts to accept a thing so 

absolutely untrue 
They rob the soul of greatest joy ; the intellect of 

more glorious view. 
The material of the throne is principles of -perfec- 
tion and truth; 
Enamel' d and ennobled by light far greater and 

more splendid than youth. 



35 



The Architect's plan's such that these principles 

to each other so relate 
That the influence and splendor of either make the 

others far more great ; 
The influence which each to others lend is so 

acceptable and good, 
That materials are cemented perfectly by uni- 
versal love. 
These principles are made more perfect in Him, 

who is seated on the throne; 
With higher elements and virtues united, reach 

perfections unknown : 
On the throne of these principles, He sits in ma- 
jestic power sublime ; 
And gathering to himself the control of all things 

by knowledge divine ; 
Nor has he enter' d in league with another being 

to gather such rule ; 
To the perfection of His power and system of 

laws belong control. 
In that temple's an apartment for ev'ry one 

whose heart is not sold 
To vanity, the lust of the world, or for the influ- 
ence of gold; 
Fitted with a relief for ev'ry desire that can 

come. 
Or rightly have claim to a place in the soul's 

bright home. 
Before entering that abode, must be purged by 

perfection of truth ; 
Be freed from ev'ry thing not in accordance with 

perpetual youth; 
Be renew' d to those pristine beauties of love for 

true hope and desire. 
Which finds its dehght in bathing the soul in light 

of celestial fire ; 
And unlike Adam, when to that blissful abode 

retire ; 



36 



Be purged from worldly lust, lucrative and human 

desire ; 
Be filled with principles, which 've ever been free 

from corruptable dross ; 
Be renew' d to that state, which, through tempta- 
tion to humanity, was lost; 
And Adam from there scourged and driven because 

of a desire to seek. 
With insatiable lust, things in Paradise unlawful 

to seek. 
Because of human weakness, supported by fire of 

youthful lust 
Man became a pilgrim in search of the way re- 
turning to dust ; 
And would not be forc'd or pursuaded by the 

knowledge of Him who could show 
Imperfections practiced on this mundane sphere 

circling in distance below ; 
Or that perpetual existence in purest youth, and 

vigor, and prime 
Would be his to enjoy through unending and un- 
erring cycles of time. 
If he would that destructive and useless desire 

by heart and mind reject ; 
That perpetual and ceaseless joy, which ever flow, 

in true faith accept. 
Man's inconsistency, refusing God's power to 

accept or believe ; 
In search of the visionary imperfections of human 

thought did leave 
Eternal bliss; stepping forth on this terrestrial 

ball with Eve his wife 
To whom he join'd his every hope, and for whom 

resigned his fear of strife ; 
But soon found as we all do find, that the income 

of our hopes and fears. 
When vested in a like union, can only be but 

sweat and tears. 



37 



Seeing it vain searching self for influence to con- 
trol an element ; 
Or to unfold beauties and mysteries of nature 

was uselessly spent ; 
He begins to seek for a plan by which he can the 

course of life beguile 
Into acceptance of laws contrary to nature and be 

reconcil'd : 
But, in such an attempt to reconcile nature he 

could only find 
That things only could be untied, which nature 

to like laws consigned. 
When man had exerted all his faculties, and in all 

things had failed 
To create, or give influence to a cause, his heart 

melted — cheek pal'd,— 
Thus he saw that man of himself was a failure, 

and the cause of a thing 
Chang' d not, or obedience render, but to Him in 

whom it has being. 
Here man remembers the council of God, and be- 
lieves, on this plants his faith; 
Hopes, through obedience to rejected laws, to 

regain the lost estate : 
A more serious problem man's rest disturb' d 

through a vision of the mind. 
That before he can keep God's law he must, his 

relation to all things, find — 
If, for sake of obedience, man a knowledge of that 

relation seek ; 
And, with perfect heart that knowledge with 

true affection, in honor, keep ; 
God, whom he desires to serve will enable him his 

duty know ; 
And with respect to all things wherein he must 

act that knowledge show. 
Man, to God, is related as His power, wisdom, 

glory, goodness knows,— 



38 



That relation, God honors or disregards, according 

to acts man does. 
Man's solution of his relation to the Great, Eternal 

One First Cause 
Determines his course ; becomes a basis of his acts ; 

or to him is law, — 
The law which governs all his acts, and his reason 

for every deed ; 
So man's belief is his religion, be it false reasoning 

or church creed. 
From that beautiful mansion, where man first 

willingly turned his steps to roam, 
Through obedience and supplication is pleading to 

make it his home: 
With eyes steep' d in tears, a visible token of heart 

rended condition. 
He vows to the Universal Ruler to serve without 

superstition ; 
Sealing the obligation of his vow with sacrifice, 

the blood of life; 
Observing obligations of matrimony in taking Eve 

to wife : 
That obligation acknowledg'd in the pleasant 

shade of Eden's tree ; 
Before the throne of God, on the flowery shore of 

the crystal sea; 
Witnessed by angels looking from the vault of 

a boundless unclouded sky, 
Where the splendors of youth and brightness of 

the morning are never passed by; 
Saw by that sleepless Eye that regardeth not the 

innocent flower, 
Which matures into beauty and passes on 'neath 

the summer bower; 
That it may do obedience to kindness of Almighty 

power 
In passing from life in its fairest beauty, at the 

appointed hour ; 



39 



Heard by that auditory acuteness registering ev'ry 

sound, 
Gathering the cause which disturbed the quietness 

before the resound; 
Known by that mind which sees in the elements 

the gendering of thought, 
Which hghting on the brain of man shows how 

mysteries of God are wrought: 
Marriage was instituted with knowledge of all 

things in a holy place ; 
In the sacred precinct of light, so recommended to 

all Adam's race: 
Declared as the bond for the union of love, cement- 
ing two hearts as one ; 
Thus with respect to ties of love, man's obedience 

to his wife begun. 
So Adam saw no wrong in consenting to taste 

fruit Eve's sweet lips press'd. 
Who, after they were sufficiently enlightened, 

found themselves undressed; 
Being yet surrounded by beauty and innocency in 

realms of light 
They hoped to securely shelter their sin in the 

depths of the shade of night : 
To such realm they were unable to retire, or place 

find to hide their woe ; 
For place, where light of truth and knowledge 

enters not the righteous seed to sow. 
Is not to be found in the heights above, or with 

the depths below. 
Search most secret spot — with light of morning, 

to uttermost bounds, go ; 
And a place you will not find, where God is not 

ever present 
To judge all lords and kings, and console the 

heart of the peasant. 
Seeing themselves guilty before God and all 

things, which did, yet, truth obey; 



40 



They began preparing raiment, so foundation for 

tailoring did lay ; 
Gathering material from vegetation, such we get 

from field; 
Using the largest that least labor might require 

to cause to yield 
Into a garment fitting nice. — As Bve had no glass 

herself to behold. 
She must rely on what Adam said, but still think- 
ing her beauty untold. 
From sweetness of earth, ocean and air distill 

their purity, it you will find 
A bitterness of horror, when compared to influence 

of joys divine : 
Veg'tation, animal life and material world, their 

beauty refine, 
It would, if compared with celestial beauty, to 

imperfection incline. — 
From the diamond, sun and all things having 

light, extract the purest spark; 
But, when liken to the pure light of the just, you 

will find deep shades of dark : 
From the human voice ; note of singing bird ; 
Or all things in which a pleasant sound be heard, 
Draw from them the most pleasing strain, note 

or word; 
But, when compared with music of heaven's choir 
In it you'd no sweetness or accordance hear. 
The joys of the human heart, that break forth 

in discordant song 
On the still night air, or carried with the golden 

flush of mom; 
The love of the singing bird carroll'd forth to the 

delight 
Of all nature from a heart yearning for pur'ty of 

light; 
And all the creatures of nature as they seem to 

waste their souls in praise 



41 



To Him whose love ne'er grows cold, nor wastes 
not in endless years or days, 

Are all resung in perfect tone, without discord, by 
that heavenly choir, 

Whose voices into one perfect sound roll through 
endless time and boundless air. 
As each note of instrumental music some pas- 
sion of soul elate ; 

Or, as it some new joy, pleasure or gladness within 
the heart awake; 

So in music of that band that e'er plays to please 
the Master great. 

Each of these notes, in purest art, are perfect 
made in tone and shape — 

All the purity and sweetness of that music so per- 
fectly sublime 

Unite in one sweet chime — break on chord of 
the Aeolian-harp of time. 

And in that happy land where all voices are but 
one; 

Where all instruments of music to one note are 
strung. 

There that great, pure, sweet tone into which all 
voices have grown, — • 

The chiming of that wonderful harp into same 
have flown. 

How all vocal sounds and tones of instrumental 
music into same' 11 flow 

Is an admirable myst'ry for man too vast to 
understand or show; 

To the mind of the statesman, priest, poet or sage 

Is a thing too wonderful for him to presage ; 

But to the mind that can correctly see or com- 
prehend. 

The reason is that their influence is one and the 
same — 

Instrumental music is art of human voice playing 
on a string, 



42 



And for that reason it is an accomplishment to 

play and to sing. 
Since all power and influence to One Eternal 

Cause in union flow; 
Nature from that Great One First Cause with due 

obedience receives her law. 
Men and nations from kind nature, which will not 

give 
Personal favors, get instructions how to live : 
Write their laws from instructions thus received ; 
At her bar seek redress from what aggrieved. 
Nature to her principles is never untrue or unfair, 
Nor will she leave her trusting children to perish 

in despair; 
But, all her causes in scale of justice try ; 
The poise observe with an unremitting eye — 
Before announcing to the recording angel the 

weight, 
She observes again each influence and due caution 

take 
To see that every poise of the scale does exactly 

state 
How the influence of the circumstance to the 

cause relate.^ 
And the good or evil, that has thus arose, 
Is instantly recorded to whom it goes. 
He, who sits on the throne by His inevitable laws, 
Sees what word or action has been productive of 

the cause ; 
Finds the exact influence intended to produce, 
Which brought the word or action to such a state 

or use; 
Or how it has influenced the world, or gave 
Principles of strength some falling heart to save. 
If evil Almighty Good the thing rejects. 
Seeing no beauty it holds or light reflects ; 
If good, to the light it shows the highest respect ; 
The power of right in strength it e'er will protect. 



43 



What is nature, or from whence her lofty 
powers grow? 
Ask the Skeptic, doubting Love's influence or her 

law. 
Before you can, or will accept the answer to 

the question give. 
You must accept the influence of elements in 

which you live; 
And this existing truth, you must accept, that life 

cannot come 
From the power of either element in itself alone : 
That life is given, or as you would say produced 
By that influence, which each lends for others use : 
That that common influence into which they all 

doth blend 
Is become the strength, vitality, light and life of 

men: 
That the existence, progress and well being of all 

things truly depend 
On keeping a true relation with influence in which 

they began. 
Sir, I cannot find reason to support a doubt 

that would reject 
The truth, which the conviction of my heart does 

on my mind reflect. 
Then, if this truth does so clearly to thy mind 

impart 
The strength that influence of wisdom has o'er 

the heart; 
How is it then, that you are unable to see, or 

understand. 
To rule this universe, the Being must be superior 

to man? 
Or how you can within your heart and mind con- 
ceive 
A thing that could induce you life's true path to 

leave ? 
Because the Almighty has not seen fit to lend 
A power to all men His works to comprehend? 

44 



Then, since the causes, which produce the animal 

Hfe, I so plainly see, 
Why is it I can't understand how an acorn can 

contain a tree? 
In gentle spring the mighty oak puts forth its 

flower 
To welcome the refreshing touch of the vernal 

shower ; 
In the sweet influence of sun bathe its tender 

soul,— 
In the bright splendor of the radiant light of gold ; 
From the influences it loves gather strength of 

vital force. 
With nature of the oak unite elements, which give 

the growth. 
Thus maturing into fruit of purity and worth. 
It falls to sleep upon the lap of mother earth ; 
Closely nestled within her bosom neat and warm, 
Protected from the drifting snow and winter' s storm ; 
Reposes with unconscious ease from ev'ry harm, 
And awaketh not until free from all alarm : 
So a perfect tree within a shell's thus enclosed. 
Surrounded with all nutriments by which it grows ; 
But, would not be stirred from the silence of its 

repose. 
Until returning life had touched the heart of the 

rose — 
Urg'd by the caressing hand of loving mother 

earth ; 
Allur'd by the wide spreading music of vernal 

mirth ; 
Refreshed by the healing balm applied to the dust 
Forth into the joys and power of life it burst. 
Two leaves at first its foliage did compose, 
But in after years put forth mightier boughs ; 
Its broad spreading roots into earth's bosom shove 
Piercing the vaulted sky as in greatness arose. 
Since this great truth is so firmly fixed on my 

sight, 

45 



Then, I would be pleased to know from you, what 

is light? 
Before the light you can know, its source, you 

must seek, 
Not as the pround and haughty, but the low and 

meek: 
Your heart must be ready to receive and accept 

the truth ; 
Become as humble and dependent as the nursing 

youth : 
Think not that there is wisdom or strength within 

man 
His course too prosperous make, or destiny plan ; 
But this one truth, must know, accept and under- 
stand. 
That the means employed will determine the end ; 
Course or character of principles he cannot bend 
To suit the purpose of his own superstitious mind. 
Light's source, then Sir, you must hope to see or 

find in the place. 
Where sits the Creator, Ruler, Guider of human 

race ; 
To his infinite, unerring, infallable knowledge 

adjust your sight. 
Then this you will understand and confess to be 

only true source and light. 
When your relation to all things you seek to trace. 
Ignorance and darkness, you must, from your 

mind, erase; 
For as you see a thing, whither dimly or clear. 
So that thing will to you a like relation bear ; 
So long as such relation is permitted to endure 
You will, from it some good receive or evil, pro- 
cure: 
If you see a thing in original light. 
And it you apply according to such sight ; 
It's virtues you'll no longer fear or deny. 
But, on its purpose, you will firmly rely. 
Opinion's but a collection of light, 

46 



Harmonized by each faculty of sight ; 

Thus in acceptance, guarding our approach to the 
close, 

In determining what confidence's worthy repose. 
Whither intelligence be conducted by either 
faculty of sense. 

Through observation and adjustment it must 
gain the other's consent: 

By such acceptance we receive intellectual light, 

Which is equally as true as the reflection of sight. 

If at any time one faculty refuse with others to 
coincide, 

Then reason's most powerful lens is faithfully 
sought and as truly tried; 

The cause confine to a closer restriction of purer 
Hght 

To relieve the mind from waving image of shadow- 
ing doubt ; 

Enable the faculties, of the cause, a true disposi- 
tion make; 

Place in life's scale where most happiness and 
greatest pleasure effect. 
Purest gems of life are only discoverable be- 
neath reason's ray; 

Life's sweetest and most tender thoughts often 
contained by subjects cast away : 

Then let each subject having influence with our 
lives to connect, 

Be tried by the light and the beauty that it of it- 
self reflect ; 

Plac'd in due connection with every pleasing in- 
fluence of the soul ; 

With concentrated light of ev'ry virtue humanity 
can behold. 

And, if through the current of the varied relations, 
there be caused to flow 

Into the heart sereener joys — to exile force some 
instrument of woe ; 



47 



Then its course make most sure, ever lighted by 

the self same spark, 
Always welcome its ebb and flowing through 

portals of the heart. 
The influence which flows from the bodies 

celestial. 
In sweetest effulgence o'er this ball terrestrial, 
Is the sun's bright glow tinctured by the moon's 

silvery beam; 
And soft affections of the king of day for the 

nightly queen 
Is gendered into the stars' soft melting blaze, 
Which union attracts the angels' fondest gaze : 
Union should be no less a virtue in this life. 
When pertaining to the bonds binding man and 

wife; 
And let confidence bear a soothing for ev'ry tear ; 
As in darkest night greatest constellations appear. 
As lesser luminaries pale before the King of the 

Solar Reign; 
Or the morning, from the rose's smiling face, as in 

silence she complians, 
Kisses a dewy tear away; so small ideas lead to 

high views, 
And continue through pure principle to rise to 

more perfect truths. 
Our being is but a solar system of human light. 
Of which the soul is sun and intelhgence the sight ; 
The mind, the moon, piercing the deep darkness 

and gloom of ignorance night ; 
Searching her dusky vaults and asserting claim 

to utensils of life : 
The soul and mind then give time and season to 

ev'ry affair, 
Which also determine the character of fruit that 

we bear. 
All physical and intellectual forces are stars of life. 
Gathering an influence and vital strength from 

the soul's pure plight 

48 



To adjust them to their position in the system of 

Hfe; 
Bound man's conduct by more perfect beauty- 
refinement of Hght. 
Rehgion is the axis on which human destiny 

revolves, 
Which is so infinite in extremes that there can be 

no poles. 
If that religion be a true faith in the powers of God, 
Production of that planet will grow from pure 

flowers of love ; 
Ripen into fruit of the purest mellowy hue ; 
Fragrant with flavors of the sweetest heavenly 

dew; 
Containing nutriment to nourish ev'ry virtue of 

gold, 
And fluids sufficient to slake every thirst of the 

soul. 
If the axis be paganism, or infidelity, or doubt, 
The planet of life will continue to circle in un- 
known route 
With no fixed purpose to rule, or to guide its 

course ; 
To lights of humanity be forever lost — 
A miserable sphere, in a desolate abode. 
Disconnected from all there are to adore or love ; 
A barren, ice-cover' d, tempestuous, rocky home; 
A place where no joys of life flourish, or virtues 

bloom. 
Seven lib'ral arts or sciences are Pl'ads of life, 
Having an influence no man can bind or set at 

strife ; 
Lending a needed assistance to every vocation of 

man; 
Enabling every faculty of mind to take hold with 

the hand. 
To put in execution art's most perplexing or 

wonderful plan; 



49 



To erect every structure devised by the sapience 
of man : 

Has checked the sea in her wild domain, 

To a portion of her bed set claim. 

Flourishing districts and cities now stand where 
the sea once raved, 

To its marts gather luxuries of the world from o'er 
her wave: 

Sends in exchange articles for which human pride 
continues its cry; 

To every necessity of man furnish a lib'ral supply : 

Has discovered and made application of the 
powers of steam, 

Lessened the burdens and cares of life by loco- 
motive machine. 

The locomotive and steamer have reached the 
most distant place; 

Quicken' d all branches of industry to a more pro- 
gressive pace: 

Has tamed the forked lightning of the thunder, 

Which was to man a terrifying wonder — 

Curbing its force, light and speed to the course of 
a wire ; 

Substituting its light for cannels, its heat for fire. 

Its power to propel applied to the trolley and 
wheel. 

And through this application great usefulness doth 
reveal — 

Sound's now transmitted with speed rivaling 
velocity of light ; 

Communication established between all people , — 
black or white — 

Electricity now carries intelligence over land, — 
under sea, — 

Has wrought a revolution in every branch of in- 
dustry that be. 
Brotherly friendship' s that Orion B and that binds 
Man to humanity through all its course and lines ; 
Makes him a brother and friend to every race ; 

50 



Gives man a welcome in every clime and place : 
Seated deep in every heart to rule through time 

and space; 
A band the devil cannot break — stamp he can — 

not erase. 
Through the channels of the blood it flows pure, 

deep and strong; 
Renovates and purifies our lives with mercy's song : 
Heart speaks to heart in nature's deepest tone, 
When all earthly help has fled and is gone : 
Calls to life those principles in the human breast, 
That stir supreme joys from abode of earthly rest ; 
Thus in the orb of life a new luminary softly 

shines 
To light humanity to more glorious and sweeter 

climes. 
This band has bound continents by commercial 

lines ; 
Encircled the globe with joyous and peaceful 

climes ; 
Has taught peaceful arts to every tribe beneath 

the sun; 
Will continue until rendered useless the sword 

and gun; 
Will set in reign pure joy, where strife did once 

abound, 
Strewn the earth with desolation and carnage 

round ; 
O'er useful arts, with truth, to etem'ly smile 
On Folly's grave, that once ruled the savage wile; 
But sincere Folly's death true splendor in radi- 
ance shine 
With a glow that superstition and folly cannot 

blind. 
God's power to know and to save from the 

hand of fate 
Just at that moment when earthly help seems too 

late ; 
Preserve us in quiet peaceful hours of sleep 

51 



From the hand that would, the earth with our 

blood, steep; 
To conceal from the eye of the serpent, or the 

enemy that lurks 
In secret paths, to seize with fiery fangs, or hurl 

poisonous darts. 
Is to humanity like Mazzaroth, which in nature 

gives 
Exact time and season to each botanical form 

that lives; 
Instructs plants and trees, when to answer nature's 

call ; 
And when to shout with vernal voices one and all ; 
When to spread forth their lovely hands in form 

of flowers and leaves, — 
Sparkling dew drops and other heavenly blessing 

to receive ; 
Hurry on in tender buds through sunny days 
To drink in the sweeter notes of summer lays ; 
Watch then as they through the age of beauty 

glare 
Toward approach of hyperborean air, 
As it follows the sun in his southerly retreat, 
Leaving nature, over her shining vesture, to weep : 
As the frost follows in the sun's bright wake; 
From trees and plants their verdant robe, to take, 
Leaving them bear to the howling storm and 

raging air, — 
Among the branches, pure lovely snow flakes 

play so fair. 
That there could seem no harm in their visiting 

this earth for a while. 
Since they, in such perfect loveliness, over nature 

cast their smile: 
Covering the earth with a pure white coverlet not 

her own; 
Decorating the forest with beauty not of foliage 

grown ; 
Calling the vital elements to quiet repose ; 

52 



And nature stooping to hear all her creatures woes, 

Kindly admonishing them that they which least 
complain 

Will soonest feel life's adolescent powers again — 

And will stronger grow in favor with the sun, 

'Til his course to Canser be completely run ; 

To look again with a smile upon the polar field ; 

Where the treasures of frost, snow, hail and ice lay 
concealed. 

Think what'd be their worth if God had not con- 
fined 

His annual course to these tropical lines ; 

The beauty of the artic realm would vainly fair, 

If he should elect to extend his visits there ; 

The congealed bosom of the artic sea 

Into placid waters would molten be. 

If the sun in his steady course the north pole 
should find, 

The cold from there driven would around the 
south combine. 
If it be true what the scientists say, 

That glaciers over this zone once held sway; 

The sun's most southerly bound at the time 

Must have been the Ant-arctic circling line; 

And the tropic of capricom, the equator of time, — 

Equally further to south extended the frigid 
clime, — • 

Then, we must believe that in the circle of years 

The sun'll vary 'til cancer, the equator appears. 
How all changes in nature come and how they go 

Is not for mortal man to understand or know ; 

But God in his pure wisdom so equal and pro- 
found 

Will bring into usefulness all elements that bound ; 

The frosty realms that now lay buried by ice and 
snow 

May in the course of time into fertile valleys grow ; 

The deserts, that now lay parched by an equa- 
torial sun, 

53 



May enjoy the cooler bliss of a milder temperate 

zone; 
Regions, that now lay barren from heat and cold, 
May one day be praised for their wine and their 

gold; 
The parch' d shrub or lichen that may now be 

growing there, 
Instead may grow, tropical plants and flowers 

most fair; 
In space, where no knowledge, save instinct and 

intelligence of God abound. 
In the future annals of time great universities, 

there, may be found ; 
Where no labor of man is now to be seen or heard. 
The works of useful arts and science may spread 

abroad ; 
O'er the bosom of the now frozen sea, the million- 
aire's yacht may skim; 
And on the now bleak shores the solitary peasant 

may chant a hymn. 
That great light or virtue in which all human 

lights or virtues are bound, 
From it all lesser lights or virtues in humanity, to 

flow, are found, — 
Spreads with equal fullness undiminished ray and 

light 
Through the vaulted sepulchers of human fear 

and strife; 
To lay superstition and folly in their lothesome 

beds so low; 
Leave the better flowers of nature, in the human 

heart to grow — 
That bows humanity at a sympathetic shrine 
With loving heart and tender soul for the weak 

and blind, — 
When moving among worms to guide the foot with 

caution tender. 
That their rights you may not obstruct, or in their 

labor hinder ; 

54 



But rejoice in their moving at the command 
Made by the waving of an Almighty hand — 
The treasure of the mother bird regard with most 

tender care, 
That we may rejoice with her in what we love in 

equal share 
By like pity that cause us the mother bird's young 

to spare 
God will our rights to mercy by his loving hand 

declare ; 
That teaches to admire the rose in its splendor 

and pass 
Without obeying the desire its beauty to 

possess ; 
Through obedience to that desire the beautiful 

crush to death; 
And leave the stem to solitary pining for its 

wealth bereft. 
We cannot carelessly crush the meanest plant 

that grows, 
Or so deprive of life the lowest insect that moves 
Without being in violation to God's most tender 

laws, 
Through which all creatures' lives and rights to 

him he sweetly draws. 
Through that mercy shown by God to man, 
From man to each living form extend, 
Causes influence of floral beauty, in tenderest bliss, 
To salute the soul of man with nature's sweet 

adoring kiss, — 
Which inspires man's soul in its highest strain 
To sing praise to God's pure and holy name, 
For communion with tender beauties of ocean, 

earth and air ; 
To bring his soul before God in sweet and solemn 

prayer. 
By man accepting these lights and seeking their 

source 
His life will drift on in truest, loftiest course ; 

55 



Not by force impelled, but drawn by purest im- 
pulse of love 
Over the calm bosom of peace to eternally move 
In the boundless realm of peaceful light and end- 
less good; 
Where humanity is calm as it anciently stood — 
And still carried upward through an endless year ; 
The fullness of God's glory can ne'er appear: 
Then, since God's glory and fullness can never 

cease, 
Man's pleasures will have a perennial increase; 
And man into godliness will continually grow, 
While the fullness of such godliness he can never 

know: 
And still there is a centering power of God's mercy 

which draws 
A perfect feeling of sympathy for ev'ry creature's 

woes ; 
And through that potent feeling administers equal 

laws, — 
Ever by scale of justice establish the rightful 

cause. 
There is no act of charity or oppression, but God 

knows why 
That the happy are delighted, or that the lowly 

cast a sigh. 
All vitality, truth and intellect in God becomes 

but one, 
Just as all creatures' beings were with Him before 

their lives begun; 
And every living form endowed with a life and 

nature of its own ; 
That each generated being should be flesh of its 

flesh, bone of its bone — 
Each created being looks to God through life and 

form its own; 
And by that nature, and life, and form it to its 

class is known. 



56 



By that first form or image, which stands before 

God's throne; 
Through which each has its being and to the 

Father sworn 
To bear true the precepts of His love to each cre- 
ated kind, 
That they may to their first image turn for glory 

so divine. 
The image of the first created being is Lord of all 

its race, 
Since they are bound by its form and nature and 

ruled by its sight and taste, 
As all races of living creatures have first their 

being with God, 
And through that being ever bound by an uner- 
ring force of love 
To keep true the laws of nature and pay homage 

to him above; 
So the image drawn in heaven is the sun of each 

systematic life 
Harmonizing vital forces, which beautify and rule 

each in its might; 
Thus all are bound by the pure love of the Father 

into a higher life, 
That keeps lowest creature, — rules the distant 

planets and sets the stars aright. 
Bach form of life has a vital planet as a lordly 

image drawn 
By the great Architect of the universe before the 

earth had form; 
Each planet set universal to draw its innumerable 

train 
Into boundless infinite kingdom of God before 

his holy reign. 
So this planitary light we may view in life's lowest 

form 
To the more splendid light of man, which is 

nearest heaven drawn : 



57 



In reverse we find, man below angels made a 

little less; 
Thus each sphere of life does alike vanish down 

to nothingness. 
The tracing of each hiiman principle from a 

spark most obscure 
Through a gathering influence into a living light 

most pure 
Is but humanity gathering into heaven's sweetest 

love, 
As will eternally brighten through endless age 

that doth move 
Into a brighter world of thought, as an endless 

day will roll. 
Through fuller life with no bound, joy and per- 
fection to control: 
Instead of feebleness of age man'll continue to 

grow more strong in youth, — 
There is no feebleness of age, but in receding from 

God's loving truth. 
Just as each vital planet's adjusted by the Great 

Life Giving Force 
To its proper position with regard to every vital 

course ; 
So material planets are controlled by solar powers. 
That govern time, rule the seasons and regulate 

the showers; 
Which power is gathered into myriad suns, 
And properly lights and heats each planet that 

hums 
Its course within the arms of equal force 
To connect all its parts with the need source. 
Arcturus is that power which draws 
All systems to seat of solar laws. 
As they are held in the vast expanse 
By powers equal, but not by chance ; 
While the distance of their course and the time to 

make 
Are reckon'd with precision, so to render safe 

58 



The vast universe in all its parts and as a whole, 
Should each system be set ne'er in time to cease 

to roll; 
And when billions of years, in dusky cycles, will 

have past 
In time and distance there 'd be no variance in 

the least; 
The same relation to its sun each'd yet maintain, 
Nor yet in space would have turned to the light 

in vain; 
As yet, the seasons it would continue to change, 
For all creatures' benefits equally the same — 
All the vast universe would continue to roll, 
Alike for the same purpose as we now behold ; 
Nor would there have been one collision in all that 

vast host; 
One star or planet in its course or to its sun be lost, — 
But prove this truth to all generations yet unborn, 
That the Great I Am does all his work with truth 

adorn : 
By perfect knowledge, through reason clear in 

space, bind 
All his principles and works through unerring time ; 
Where they in purest light doth truly shine 
Through test of wisdom, true to ever find 
Their perfect sitting, in this vast universe, thus 

behold 
To mould all space in one just body and one per- 
fect soul. 
So God did all things to their rightful realms 

confine 
In harmonious keeping with a perfect mind — 
And set in touch with a Being that ever knows 
All that be not in keeping with perfections' laws ; 
And when such keeping does not always be. 
The offender's found by the perfect three. 
The Father from whom all in order grew, 
Ever holds them by a most perfect view 
To account to all His vastness great 

59 



For the keeping of their first estate, 

This solar system we behold materially disclose, 
To us the fact, that it from a universal system 

grows ; 
Controlled by equal, yet by greater laws, — 
Which knows no variance or seeks a pause 
To make better anything for nature's cause,— 
For, as they were first created so must stand 
True to perfection's everlasting plan. 
Which the Creator had ever seen 
Bach thing to itself so pure and clean : 
Thus in creating ordained to it a law 
To ever within the orb of nature draw — 
A rule by elements it thus compose. 
To determine the rights of its dispose. 
So through this it is given a law to find 
How each form of life is to its sphere confin'd ; 
Bach planet in position to sun inclin'd. 

As the stars, through the universe inconstella- 

tions, gather round 
To veil their sweet faces in honor of sun's more 

glorious crown ; 
Or as the suns, which spread their beauty through^ 

infinite space. 
Delight to pay homage to Arcturus' more dazzling 

grace; 
Which supplies the most distant planet with 

means of fire. 
Or robes in light of crystal beauty the purest star : 
Thus, the many virtues of humanity ever cluster 
To unite their light, power and beauty in purest 

lustre, 
To form a crown for man, it to give. 
If worthy in life he strives to live ; 
When, before the Father be summoned to appear 
The radiant light of that crown will banish all fear ; 
For truth doth ordain that no being shall possess 

such apparel. 



60 



Who is unworthy to enjoy the light of the su- 
pernal world — 

And that he who such a robe may possess, 

Shall inherit wealth of immortal bliss. 

There are other human virtues, which we might 
minutely relate; 

Within their spheres are artisticallly fitted and 
supremely great,— 

But to the subject we must turn to state; 

To hear, the Skeptic doth linger and wait. 

Sir, a question you have asked and yet not will- 
ing to hear 

The truth of bright mysteries lingering ever so 
near, 

Which are ever conversant with souls that would 
know 

The sweet beams of joy which incessantly flow 

From nature's audible speech, or heaven's vocal 
sounding ; 

To every ear speaking and through all space re- 
sounding : 

And yet, Sir, have you not felt, nor do you under- 
stand 

How the grandeur of the rose salutes the soul of 
man? 

While man returns the salutation so civil and 
seemingly quiet 

In recognition of such exquisite beauty and purity 
of life; 

Through love breathes out the beauty and sweet- 
ness of its soul 

For the sake of good and not for rubies or for gold ; 

But, prove the congeniality of air and mould 

As the Plastic Hand, them in such mystic beauty, 
fold. 
Sir, nature in a plant, let us first seek to trace. 

To find how it does many elements embrace. 

There, moisture, and earth, and air, and light 

We see spreading into life so bright ; 

61 



And, if the truth we do seek to find, 

Why these elements will so combine; 

This a supreme idea we will find to truly glow 

Traceable under guidance of nature's useful law. 

First we find, in the realm of life came a demand, 
And to find what it was was part of wisdom's plan ; 
So she, from the characteristics of the call, saw 

what would supply,— 
That materials to make it did somewhere in na- 
ture's kingdom lie; 
And wisdom calling for material in a voice nature 

knew. 
She electrified each source with a spirit to the 

others true; 
And gave them with a pleasing will. 
Knowing they would the purpose fill. 
Thus knowledge, under the guidance of truth, was 

made to understand 
How this form of life was delivered nature under 

wisdom's plan: 
The Creator did there ordain for nature's sake 
The form of mould these principles should touch 

and wake: 
And through the kindred feeling, congenial to 

them all, 
Gave eternally the form of plant that should rise 

and fall : 
Endowed them with a sense of feeling so perfect 

and so pure. 
From the autumnal or vernal touch tell which 

will kill or cure. 
The harmonious blending of elements the plants 

existence compose, 
While through the material principles, they do 

its being so disclose. 
At the touch of that harmony, in life, a plant 

rises forth; 
And through the strength of the union finds the 

extent of its growth. 

62 



The power that causes kindred principles to blend 
in life, 

For a purpose true with God in wisdom's pure and 
perfect light; 

Call to existence certain iroms from the dust of 
earth, 

And control them in after life as true as in birth, — 

With all other powers and principles, which do 
that form concern 

In harmony are called nature as they homage to 
God return. 
This power of nature's art has and will ever dis- 
play 

Floral beauty, the grandest and purest man's 
heart to sway : 

The vegetable kingdom spread over this earth so 
vast. 

Until the islands remote in such like beauty were 
cast ; 

To laden the cooling breeze with fragrance pure, 
lovely and sweet; 

Until o'er the bosom of the far distant ocean 
might greet. 

With joy some lonely being that has a tear to stay, 

Caused by the rending of hearts when in distance 
away; 

In (and where spirits congenial had learn' d to cling 

In the harmony of truth two souls were wont to 
sing. 
The mineral and vegetable kingdoms being com- 
plete ; 

All other powers gave audience to hear wisdom 
dictate. 

Not being willing that all this magnificence should 
here be doomed to waste. 

Called a multiplicity of animals — each with a pe- 
culiar taste — 

That would in them a pure relish, thus produce 



63 



For the vegetation fitting for their use. 

The beasts were made, the earth in kindred herds 
to rove ; 

To seek food from nature's store — shelter in the 
grove : 

The fish were formed to love the watery fields 
that sweep 

Over the mighty caverns, and in their secrets 
sleep : 

Fowls were made, on wing, to explore the aerial 
plain ; 

To give the soul in artless song the savage breast 
to tame: 

Then came man, the lordly being of a created plan, 

With knowledge to find secrets — the hidden mys- 
teries scan. 

All things engaged his search, their usefulenss to 
unfold ; 

In each form, and through each trace, and with 
them as a whole. 

The link of nature's pleasing art; binding them to 
his soul. 

He lost not from a living form down to the sleep- 
ing mould : 

So all things, whether in place remote, or in distance 
near, 

In the scale of man's necessity do somewhere ap- 
pear. 

Every created form, through the art of nature's 
mazy plan. 

Has a direct usefulness, traceable to some need 
of man — 

From each form, by vital powers, given strength 
and taste; 

Clothed with magnificent beauty of artistic grace ; 

Or objects inanimate designed to stand. 

Where set a shelter from time's inclement hand, — 
By instinctive feelings akin to fraternal power, 



64 



Bach being, to its species, is bound in life's fatal 

hour, 
To give attention to distress' unnatural, yet, fa- 
miliar cry; 
To render a needed assistance, .with hurried steps, 

will ever fly 
To the relief of one uttering such signs of distress, 
That it may be freed from the powers, which do 

so oppress. 
That power propitious. Sir, that in all creation is 

cast; 
Binding sympathetically each living creature to 

its class, — 
Being eternally bound by the form of ancestors 

primeval ; 
Also by sight, taste, hearing, smelling, feeling and 

habits co-eval. 
In animals are denominated faculties of nat'ral 

instinct. 
While in addition to these man is given power to 

reason and think. 
^ Nature, Sir, in its fullness is that power, which 

found fitting 
All things their place in the universe where they 

are now sitting; 
To and from all things else give and gather a 

mutual assistance, — 
No matter how small or insignificant, without its 

existence. 
The Creator's work would be incomplete, and 

time's hand that flaw would seek; 
Nature's adamantine bands, to slowly dissolve and 

as quietly break — 
Then the universe from off its foundation, shake 
To again be hurled into a chaotic state — 
But, since nature has under the guide of wisdom's 

eye. 
Set her works, time's devastating hand, to defy; 



65 



Until that great coming day in which fire, this 

flight of years, shall sweep, 
Into the past in search of inhabitants for celestial 

deep. 
Then, while time'll last, man will find nothing to 

fear, 
If, through nature to God, he ever draws near. 
Nature further, Sir, is like a great capillary 

system which connect 
Each feeling and pulse and sense of the mortal 

with an immortal effect ; 
Like sensor and motor currents of the spinal 

system, which we trust 
To convey exact intelligence to the mind of each 

thing we touch : 
So do the great truths of the Creator, all feelings 

of his creatures, bind 
To his power of feeling and intellect, their wants 

and needs to define; 
So no creature can feel, act or move, except an 

impression exact 
Is felt by the great heart and soul of nature, and 

so reflected back: 
Thus all our lives, before the Father, ever stand 
Tried, tested and proved by heaven's own loving 

hand. 
In the Archives of nature the book of truth'll 

unfold. 
In letters enamell'd by time and burnished with 

gold, 
A history of all things as God saw them in light of 

age; 
By the power of his wisdom, before their existence 

gave,— 
There find the source from whence every habit of 

life has its spring, — 
The reason why these ancestrial habits forever 

will cling, 



66 



In every age and clime, true to the offspring of its 
kind. — 

Authenticity of its records proclaim in words 
divine — 

There may read the mysteries which a plant im- 
parts, 

But must do it at the expense of nature's arts ; 

Before we can its powers of beauty extol, 

We must every secret of its worth unfold: 

To obtain knowledge by which it was made alive 

We must, the plant of its form and beauty, de- 
prive, — 

For by the knowledge of the Creator, the plant 
into existence came, — 

A separation of elements be necessary for to ob- 
tain 

A like intelligence of the plant, its culture, its 
climate and its name. 

We find God's power to create and preserve the 
science of arts involve; 

And for man to successfully trace, must the plant 
to all its parts dissolve — 

Find each element has material existence to itself 
alone ; 

But, not existing influence to the elementary 
world unknown. 

Each life's influence of certain elements in har- 
mony blended, 

So we find that they are from a like union of the 
whole descended. — 

Then read nature perfect as a whole, and in every 
part; 

And there read the perfection of science and alike 
of art. 
Sir, will you not to the Skeptic here well and truly 
explain 

How Adam was reconciled to the Father in Eden's 
plain ; 



67 



Placed in a garden filled with fruits the most de- 
licious to taste; 
With flowers the most gorgeous in colors on which 

sight could feast; 
With orders, thatseen elysian, to dress and to keep— 
Of the fruit of good and evil, prohibited to eat ? 
After the fruit of knowledge of good and evil did 

partake, 
It was then of the tree of life he was forbidden to 

taste? 
And where now, Sir, is that garden, if thou can'st 

tell; 
Of the tree of life, is it yet standing or fell? 

Sir, in the Book of Revelations it is again reveal' d 
In words of pure holiness and with prophetic 

knowledge seal'd. 
That in crystal purity the river of life begins its 

flow 
From the throne of God, and there the tree of life 

continues to grow 
On either bank, and twelve manner of fruits are 

its monthly yield ; 
While, by the virtue of its leaves the nations are to 

be healed. 
Before the throne of God, then, the plane of Kden 

expands ; 
And there to the eastward that beautiful garden 

yet stands; 
Where pure flowers of virtue cluster in youthful 

birth, 
And scatter their holy fragrance far over the 

earth 
To awake the soul of man to the touch of purity 

again, ^ 
Turn the affections of his heart to that land from 

whence it first came: 
There virtues ripen into fruits of the most re- 
splendent hue ; 



68 



Filled with flavors as pleasing to taste as the 

colors we view, 
Pure sweet fruits of virtue are the food angels to 

feed, 
As their lives can only be filled with the purest 

deed. 
If their thirst be slaked by any but dew shed on 

virtue's softest bower; 
Be delighted other than by the odor of the most 

fragrant flower; 
Or their hunger appeas'd, other than by virtue's 

purest flavor 
They would be unable to execute the Father's 

loving favor — 
For if the food be not of the purest on which they 

feast 
It will alike tincture their lives, though it be but 

the least. 
The life that is not pure cannot attend the Fath- 
er's perfect grace, 
Nor can the soul that is unclean have a smile from 

His dazzling face. 
Yet, Sir, there stands the tree of life perpetually 

in bloom ; 
Sending forth its beauty and odor into death's 

deepest gloom ; 
With power sufficient to heal the wound of sin's 

deepest dart; 
With the light of truth to cleanse the soul and 

purify the heart, — 
To annul the ordinances of hell, which death's 

vigil keeps 
Over the soul's sepulchre, which in silent slumber 

creeps. 
But the soul by truth probed and by mercy clensed 
Hell hath no power to bind within its fens. 
While Adam enjoyed a reconciHation with the 

Father, 



69 



All power, strength and virtue of humanity in 
him did gather: 

He with a love single to the Creator before whom 
he moved; 

A soul congenial to the sacred precincts in which 
he roved; 

With a knowledge of art enabling him to under- 
stand 

The beauties of nature as painted by Heaven's 
own hand ; 

With a scientific sense of power true to under- 
stand and find 

A classification of creation acceptable to God's 
mind: 

And with respect to each's importance and its use, 

Gave them names in keeping with their generic 
truth; 

And, if, that name through all its various rela- 
tions, you trace, 

There will find a true history of that creature and 
its race. 

And yet, there is a name the mind of man cannot 
peruse ; 

Nor can he find the worth and beauty God's 
powers diffuse ; 

Yet, man's supremacy, over all creation, is there 
defined. 

Which dominion is due the empire of the soul, and 
heart, and mind. 
While all human principles were united in Adam 
with truth 

They dressed him with the shining robe of heav- 
en's perpetual youth ; 

Enthroned him within the shade of celestial 
bowers ; 

Clothed with the regal splendor of supernal 
powers : 

Man sat monarch of the world, but not at rest, 

Since the powers to rule strove within his breast ; 

70 



Yet, while to his own mind and desires gave control, 
A realm of peace and light before him began to 

roll; 
So continued until he found knowledge, which 

made him so wise 
That he found it easier to fall than to continue to 

rise. 
Sir, here think with reason's mind and you will 

see, that to this time, 
Man was not only masculine, but equally fem- 
inine ; 
Here God seeing fit the two characters to divide. 
Spread the earth in which his generations to abide ; 
And as in truth the Holy Writings say, 
That God from man taken a rib away ; 
And with it the feminine character of that lordly 

man. 
Which moulding with a more delicate beauty and 

tender hand; 
A more feeling heart and sweeter grace of mind 
Than in other creation we e'er could find — 
And Adam no longer gentle in mind or tenderly 

seeing. 
Sighed for those sweet graces, which before had 

so neatly dress' d his being. 
When woman was presented to man, in her he 

saw that beauty of art. 
Which before had so gently charm' d his mind and 

so tenderly soothed his heart : 
Seeing himself without her, how incomplete and 

how impolite; 
Comparing when those feminine graces were the 

masculine light — 
That while with God perfect in soul and in heart ; 
Of man woman was the lovely gem of art. 
Which engrossed them in the Creator's tender 

care. 
As one, through holy bonds creating wedded pair : 



71 



Thus man does again, that jewel, so precious in 

his Hfe, embrace, 
Which, with the Father and angels, secured him 

cherished light of grace. 
So Adam saw that woman was, yet, as much of 

him a part. 
As before separated by creative powers of art. 
Being so embraced in the powers of self love. 
Each, for the other in this life, began to move,— 
And they no longer true in affection to God, Life's 

Goal; 
Were given to enjoy the fruits of a less hallowed 

mould : 
They being more precious to each other than the 

real Goal of Life; 
In selfishness veiled their hearts, and minds, and 

souls to the true source of light. 
Seeing in this the dim disordered light of man ; 
Through time interminable, should his race at- 
tend. 
If permitted, of the fruit of the tree of life, to taste, 
Which purpose is not to change, but is to perpet- 
uate 
The then existing state of the creature which does 

partake. 
For the good of man God, the fruit of the tree of 

life reserved; 
Until man had again the true powers of Heaven 

observed ; 
And made his life the more glorious image of his 

Lord. 
Now, hear the only true secret of matrimony, 

which is to find 
How the feminine virtues did first ennoble and 

refine man's mind; 
How they were the tenderest beauties of his soul ; 
Kept his deepest affections a pure burning coal 
On life's altar, a shrine of purest gold ; 
Cast with purest dyes in a perfect mold ; 

72 



Set in that glorious temple not made by hand, 
Prehistoric to the most ancient day of man : 
Then for marriage to be a blessing and be true 
The parties must be harmonized in their ever 

view, — 
A harmony in keeping with the principles and 

smiles of truth; 
Be guided by all availing strength of love's per- 
petual youth; 
Walk cautiously and securely in that narrow way. 
Directed by the knowledge which lights that 

ceaseless day; 
Let not the sparks of life waste in oblivious night ; 
But be absorbed by the intellect of purest light — ■ 
'Gain find their lives with the Father in union a 

perfect one, 
As were such before this flight of years began its 

course to run; 
In the joys of heaven find the sweetest rest ; 
In the favors of life be securely blest. 

The truths of God are all the powers that have a 

lasting stay ; 
All else are folly riden, alluring from true path 

away; 
So to the course of this faltering strand, 
The Maker will ascribe a fitting end, 
To be determined by influence of act and deed ; 
Till this flight of time on golden wings will cease 

to speed, 
Over the revolving flight of measured years; 
Freighted with the weight of many joys and tears. 
When the raging storm of life will have sped its 

ceasing gale; 
In time's most distant port, life's bark lowered 

its latest sail; 
Then comes the inspector true with knowledge 

and power aglow 
To set the cargo on high, or cast it in the depths 

below. 

73 



Since first the human race, at God's command in 

Ufe, began, 
Through the return of years, in generations, to 

expand 
Into cities and nations from a roving clan ; 
Until the pursuit of life bound them by its span, 
It has been taught by scriptural truths and does, 

yet, prove true; 
While physical man weakens intellect broadens 

its view, — 
Then, as primitive man was clothed in physical 

strength. 
So must the latter age of man in wisdom be spent ; 
And, here, a wonderful mystery of truth, we find. 
How wisdom so exactly supplants the lack of time ; 
As it spreads before us the gathered volume of 

truth. 
Which' s been wrought by logic's equilibrium of 

proof — 
Find the equaUty of God in the might of power 

explain ; 
How, through ages in time unequal, to man He's 

ever the same; 
How life's shortened exact in proportion to ad- 
vantages given 
By experiment, which opens more truly the 

splendors of heaven : 
We find the exact equality, in the height of perfec- 
tion, to extend 
Through all ages, which the Creator, in his wisdom, 

allotted to men. 
Trace the smallest principles of truth as they in 

harmony blend; 
Through the elementary world'll find pyramids of 

light ascend 
High in the light of intellectural day. 
Where the sons of science cast their purest ray : 
Thus through the world of intellect scientific 

pyramids appear 

74 



Most refulgent beneath unfaded splendor of suns 
of ceaseless glare: 

Through that realm of intellect are many pyra- 
mids and suns to find, 

Which stand perfect and radiant through the most 
extended lap of time. 

He, who the material can annalyze, or Architect's 
mind explain. 

May hold converse with the sons of genius upon 
the highest seat of fame; 

For he, who thus ascends a pyramid by power of 
. sight, 

Constructs for himself a monument of pure and 
lasting light. 

All these shining obelisks of science and suns 
which illume their span 

Are cemented by wisdom, the purest of the ever- 
lasting plan, 

Into one grand structure composing quintessence 
of each light and gem ; 

Wrought with the highest grandeur on which 
supreme magnificence attend; 

Adorn' d by most exquisite beauties to which 
powers of art ascend. 
Wisdom's the source and splendor of intellectual 
day, 

Sending forth beams the brightest of the ever- 
lasting ray; 

The light and law by which all other lights were 
planned ; 

Constructed; placed and rul'd for purposes most 
Grand ; 

A guide to inspect true the mysteries of all space, — 

Show a plan of usefulness where none is doomed 
to waste, 

Save that to which the law of light be adverse ; 

And cast with those that be of an endless curse : 

Wisdom is the brightest of the everlasting light; 



75 



The instructor of sages; the deadHest foe to 

night; 
The Hght by which, the universe in its purity, God 

saw 
And set all things in observation of an unerring 

law; 
To preserve them in pristine beauty of their purest 

strength. 
That radium-like spreads itself in light, yet, never 

spent ; 
Enlightening the world with pure principles, 

which more luminous grow 
As we trace them toward the gathering splendor 

of majestic awe, — 
Where sit the sons of science, in audience most 

reverent and profound. 
To be instructed by pure and perfect intelligence 

gathering round 
The Foot-stool ; where wisdom, the gist of genius 

and of power. 
Proves by just and equal laws the accomplishment 

of each hour; 
Where time is authenticating what God by wisdom 

first hath said ; 
While all things else, in deathly silence, slept in 

a chaotic bed. 
Would by principles of truth be brought to pass 
From first spring of time, even unto the last. 

Sir, the Skeptic you have in mystery brought 
To where, by holy logic, he must be taught 
Concerning the character of Christ, our Lord ; 
Given by the Father in His sacred word : 
How Christ and the Father are one, yet, Christ 

be not God? 
If he be the Highest, why deny himself to be good ? 
The Son of God of a truth. Sir, was of a most 

pure and holy birth; 
Possessing highest beauty of woman — purity of 

human worth; 

76 



Crown' d with the Hght and beauty of wisdom, and 
filled with the virtues of truth ; 

Perfect in feeling for infirmity of age and tender- 
ness of youth; 

Acquainted with the rage of Hfe and the passions 
to subdue 

Through subjection to Spirit of Holiness, present- 
ing to view 

The path leading to that mansion finished to 
highest perfection of art. 

Which introduces the Builder to every affection of 
the heart; 

Who yet reigns higher over the perpetual mansions 
of grace ; 

Gathering souls precious to His Being from the 
most remote space ; 

Where the highest beauties of pleasure and the 
sweetest essence, which feed 

Purest, deepest hunger of spiritual, — intellectual 
need, 

Are most sumptuously and luxuriously spread 

To supply exact the hunger that is to be fed : 

And he who at that banquet may feast will ne'er 
grow prodigal again ; 

But, e'er gather treasures of excellency from an 
elysian plain. 
When Christ's sight was first met by the im- 
maculate beauties of mom. 

Like man the principles of his intellect were but 
embryon, — 

Yet, in favor with God and man he gradually 
increased. 

Until the heights of humanity in perfection, did 
reach ; 

And there gave a living testimony in that height 
he had rose. 

That the splendor of humanity is not otherwise 
disclosed ; 



77 



But in that highness, where humanity and godli- 
ness become one; 
Where doubtful hopes are lost, and where perfect 

love and confidence begun; 
Where ignorance, the deepest darkness, is ex- 
pelled by purity of light, 
And man is made to see and feel, by the power of 

Heaven's perfect sight, 
The true glory of all creation shining in its perfect 

glow; 
With a smile for every pleasure ; a sigh for every 

woe. 
Christ's temptations, in all things in the extreme, 

can only be defined, 
Which were presented, in tastefulness more full 

than fancies of the mind; 
To the highest passion of pride, or love for lordly 

sway. 
Which darkens hell into most miserable woeful 

day; 
Alluring by sensual pleasures through a region 

without way. 
Into a yawning chasm as dismal and dark as once 

it was gay ; 
Which were met on equal footing by a soul human- 
like. 
Whose guide was wisdom, a weapon to conquer 

moral strife; 
Whose support was christian virtues, a power 

that never fails 
To land the ship in safety, no matter what oppose 

her sails. 
A Being, who knew celestial riches, future wealth 

to gain 
By making most precious to the soul Thing of 

loftiest fame. 
In the Son of God human virtues attained their 

highest degree, 



78 



Which were perfect unto godHness through that 

peace that ever be 
To waft us heavenward over the bosom of the 

calmest sea; 
Where no hideous monsters unseen lurk to give 

frightful currents play; 
But the breeze balmiest of the balmy and life 

gayest of the gay: 
Then since humanity in its highness is a part of 

godliness made, 
Which is not all of godliness, but for a just and 

holy purpose staid 
With that most glorious Being where the strength 

of every truth is laid : 
If the life and character of Christ in godliness be 

absorbed, 
Then he and the Father must be one as asserted 

by his word ; 
Just as we rightly say the chest and body compose 

but one, 
The chest be not all the body, so be the Father 

and Son. 
Christ's life may be said to gather, acorn-like, 

virtues' purest essence known; 
Set in humanity's truest heart rose in tow'ring 

heights to brighter dome. 
Through the light of celestial knowledge where 

the day is never old; 
Bowing, in that most splendid City, before One 

of purest soul. 
He, who has tasted the pleasures, or felt the light 

of supernal day, 
Confesses goodness alone's of the Father, nor hath 

another way. 
The Son, who knew the perfect light ; the Father's 

greatness to adore. 
Could only say there is but One Good ; no matter 

who might deplore, — 



79 



Wish for contention or division in that most regal 

power, 
Where two Beings of equal splendor might seek 

men as a dower; 
Not because of a desire, the divine virtues, to 

impart 
To man, that purify the soul, the light of the mind 

and heart ; 
That calleth men in loving joy to a land of purest 

bliss, — 
Leave them that wish a division to sink into 

deepest mist: 
But, that they might, under guile of falsehood, 

gather to Them courtier-like ; 
Through adulation change intellectual day to 

ignominious night. 
Then, since goodness be a unit, and so will ever 

stand, 
Man must gather unto goodness, not goodness 

unto man. 
If holiness gather' d unto man, there would be a 

degrading law; 
While holiness would suffer evil and leave man 

to no better grow — 
Since One of perfect holiness alone is a rising 

force, 
Man, who seeks the Fountain of Goodness, must 

gather to that source ; 
And drink freely of that pure flowing stream that 

crystallyzes the soul ; 
Makes the heart a perfect diamond set in a mind 

of purest mold. 
There is no good, Sir, save such as from the Fa- 
ther's highest honor grows; 
All else fade in deathly dark under influence of 

infernal laws. 
Then, if man loveth not the good and the light of 

virtue's brightest gem 



80 



He cannot to purest precincts of life and intel- 
ligence ascend; 
In the light of majestic grandeur of the most holy 

laws, 
Holding all things in the light and nature of the 

truth it shows : 
As is said, " None is good," save Him by holy 

virtues keep 
Calmly still the serene current of perpetual peace ; 
Flowing over the smooth billows of the celestial 

deep ; 
Where souls, in shallops to the highest purest 

taste of pleasure form'd. 
In softest breezes, sweetly glide o'er bosom of 

eternal calm. 
Christ, who was perfect and just in all his life 

and ways; 
Possessing a spirit that keeps pure through endless 

days. 
Was tinctured not by sin or lust, 
Though foully laid beneath the dust ; 
Who, without sin, became sin for man through 

sympathetic ties, 
That holds humanity in life of that Being who 

ne'er dies; 
Suffering the deepest shame, and bearing the dis- 
grace of the cross; 
Paving way to that garden humanity, in distance, 

had lost. 
Which yet bears a reflection in the light of the 

mind. 
As we look through mist of years to beginning of 

time; 
A way mystified by human doubts and waste of 

falling tears 
Is more obstructive to spiritual sight than manly 

fears. 
While on the cross he, life's deepest agonies, bore ; 



81 



Man heartlessly pierced his side for the healing 

gore; 
And did a sacred gift to earth his blood outpour : 
He approached in bitterness the darkening door, — 
While entering gave a cry of deepest distress, 
As closed o'er him the bitterest horrors of death : 
While the powers of death contended with those 

of life, 
The universe quaked with vengeance in that hour 

of strife; 
As death received her victim in agony of pain, 
The innermost veil of the temple was rent in twain ; 
As the Father saw the son's soul in the lowest hell 

laid; 
And man consign his body to the keeping of the 

grave. 
There nature hid her face in mourning's deepest 

shade ; 
As in agony sustain' d jar that sin had made ; 
And she unveil' d not her face nor smiled again, 

until Christ confined, she saw 
By all bars of death and hell, to spirits bound, 

peaching the redeeming law ; 
That death and hell hath no power to bind the 

just and true; 
That they would soon obey and recognize the 

Father too: 
So remained in bondage until day the third. 
When God's demand for his release should be 

heard. 
The devil setting all his powers to bind and guard ; 
Stood boldly defying the Father's holy sacred 

word: 
So again contended the powers of life and death. 
As is said, while the Roman Soldiers in qui'tness 

slept. 
All forces of Heaven and hell did with vengeance 

quake 



82 



As God by truth the powers and bars of hell did 
break, — 

Left the soul free to rise to the spirit's high plain, 

That believed and trusted in the Father's pure 
name, — 

Leaving the devil with his own who could no 
longer bind 

An immortal soul by hope to higher regions con- 
sign' d. 

All things opposing the resurrection of Christ back- 
ward did roll, 

As his body was quickened by the Hght of the im- 
mortal soul; 

The body arose in the pleasure and light of love ; 

In the grandeur of beauty and meekness of a 
dove — 

And angels remained to inform those who might 
seek 

Of the resurrection of him who was so meek ; 

Who wore the splendor of regality supreme. 

Whom man had condemned as being groveling 
and mean; 

Because he was content in humanity's lowest 
state 

To serve the Father's will,— his blessings patiently 
await ; 

That all things might rise to the Being they 
praise 

To live in His glory through infinite days. 

His abhorrence for riches and luxurious ease, 

Which close man's eyes, heart and soul to the 
light he should see; 

His love for humanity in its feebleness wrought 

Shameful derision and mock'ry from the rich 
it brought ; 

Because he labored in love to strengthen the poor 

Society cast him out and then barred its door, 

Saying, you must accept us if you would here 
abide, 

83 



Otherwise you must eternally remain outside ; 
What would society be, if we forsake its pride? 
But to labor it means for Christ to remain inside. 
Christ being free from all things that could 

hinder or bind ; 
There bieng nothing so secret but what he could 

find 
Its exact purpose, its form, its rise, and its plan, 
As it effects purity in the life of man : 
Thus he entered the chambers where secret bars 

kept guard, 
While, not a foot-fall the watches of silence dis- 
turbed ; 
So he ever is present, a standard our lives to 

judge, 
And will, in the end, all the secrets of man's life 

divulge. 
God seeing in his son how hard each temptation 

to overcome 
Left this propitiation for all, and His grace denied 

to none ; 
But would give power to each who, through the 

humanity of Christ, would seek 
The perfection of Him who holds empire o'er the 

realm of infinite deep : 
Who stamped each soul with His image, the coin 

of love ; 
So to make them current in the market above ; 
And, if truly observed unto that image, the stamp 

of the coin, 
From a communication with wisdom you no one 

can disjoin ; 
But, will ever be to you a medium of exchange 
To pass you from mortality to Bden's joys again. 
Therewas a pure principle in humanity from be 

ning of time ; 
Existing first in chaos, but e'er being manifest in 

soul and mind ; 



84 



As this principle, through ages, gathered in per- 
fect form and soul 

To it, perfection of humanity by the Spirit, was 
told. 

Would be gathered to the Father in the person of 
His son, 

Which the Creator ordained before earth's foun- 
dation begun ; 

And, as we trace true enlightenment through all 
the annals of man. 

We find in the gath'ring of that principle pure 
knowledge expand ; 

And those in whose lives such gathering was most 
clear and most prevalent ; 

In searching useful knowledge, with their history 
most time must be spent. 

Those with whom that principle abode God's Holy 
Spirit commun'd, 

Conducting them in peace and qui'tness to their 
rest within the tomb ; 

Where truth, though profoundly silent, holds 
sacred their dust and bone, — 

Until their Saintly Spirits return to guide them to 
their home. 

The patriarchs and saints of old are they who 
Christ's lineage bore 

From Adam until made perfect unto the Father 
ever more. 

Of that principle, we find God mindful, from the 
most distant day ; 

And while with Noah He preserved it in a most 
glorious way ; 

He bore him upward and safely o'er tempest of the 
mightiest deep, 

While all man's long boasted works and false wis- 
dom were wasted in the sweep : 

Again we find Him mindful, when Isaac, a proffer- 
ed sacrifice, 



85 



upon Moriah's brow, lay bound, a helpless victim 

to the knife : 
Again we find Him mindful, when from Egyptian 

bondage led 
The lineage of that principle that entered for gift 

of bred : 
Again we find Him mindful, when captive led to 

Babylon's wall, 
Which mindfulness broke power of empire and let 

the mighty fall. — 
So that principle we ever find, when contending 

for the right, 
Leading to victory, general and valor of human 

might ; 
That principle led Isr'el captive to foreign land 
To serve a day of penance before the Holy Man. — 
Never, while idolaters served an image drawn 
To represent the Deity through ages down. 
Did that principle bow to worship idols in God's 

stead, 
Or from fear in honor to them bow a reverent 

head ; 
But always led humanity to see the better way. 
To recognize the good, and to answer the evil nay. 
That principle in its gathering dictated to man 

the law 
From perpetual fount of reason, whence all ruling 

powers flow ; 
Producing justice and equity under pure colors by 

which they shine. 
Which are a joy to the soul, an elegance and a 

splendor to man-kind ; 
Law as a mathematical system to solve on eternal 

day 
The origin of man's being, as the mist of age is 

rolled away ; 
And God see more glorious and splendid through 

eternity of time ; 



86 



And see perfection of perfections in the origin of 

the mind. 
First we find that principle the only seat of human 

bliss ; 
The pure heart of humanity gathering from out 

the mist, 
The essence of all the beauty and the worth it 

owned, 
Until in person and soul, a perfect man was form- 
ed, — 
Which quickened to life by a like essence of spirit- 
ual truth. 
Was perpetuated unto God in tenderness of its 

youth. 
Then, in such a being, was there imperfection, 

fault, or sin to be found ; 
Where flesh was perfected unto soul, and soul unto 

spiritual bond ? 
This was the being who endured the scorns of 

man : 
Served a life of truth and will eternally stand. 
As the way to heavenly mansions from this world 

of sin ; 
And he, who accepts not that way, can nowhere 

enter in ; 
For, from man to God, there is way but one. 
Which way's through the perfection of His Son, — 
For which perfection, man must deny himself and 

accept as his own. 
For not another life or being can ever to the Father 

come. 
To coming of Christ, 'lone to Isr'el, could man 

look for saving grace ; 
For to which time and for which purpose the Jews 

were a chosen race. — 
After Christ's work on earth was tinished the law 

and the prophets found their end ; 
After which the Jews were no longer chosen, but 

became as other men : 

87 



But, for which cause the skeptic doubts that such 

a being e'er hath been ; 
For which cause the Jew will not believe that he 

is as other men. 
In splendor of highest perfection, now Christ is 

ascended unto God, 
But, for man's cleansing left on earth the power of 

his all atoning blood ; 
Through which atoning and perfection is power 

to draw 
All men unto him at the seat of God's majestic 

law, — 
Where in perfect splendor and pure glory; while 

cycling time ne'er will pose. 
The highest seraphs' 11 sing his victory counting 

dust from whence he rose ; 
Til the pure spirit of all music in holiness join 

them ; 
While Heaven's shining host thus proclaim the 

praise that ne'er shall end. 
From the time that Christ first arose in triumph 

from the depths of morbid woe. 
In spiritual grandeur, he to his disciples did him- 
self disclose, — 
While to the heights of celestial glory not yet as- 

scended ; 
Yet, the imperial host of heaven with him attend- 
ed: 
As he, in light of highest principles that humanity, 

e'er can wear, 
Was viewed by his followers until he in brighter 

day did disappear, — 
When beyond (where in human weakness might 

fall 'way), securely asscended, 
The comforting joy of the Holy Spirit on believers 

descended ; 
And join'd by them who have their home beyond 

this vale of human weakness ; 



88 



Where all most sweetly move in the gentle flow of 

perpetual gladness : 
And moved by music precisely fitted to proclaim 

the glad joys of day, 
Which hold eternally a vernal feeling purer than 

flowers of May ; 
So on Christ rises through joys purer, — joined by 

music sweeter still. 
Until is seated on the summit of the Father's holy 

will ; 
Where beauty, elegance, sublimity in grandeur of 

their highest state 
Fade before those more wondrous beauties that 

robe the One of purest taste. 
In that robe is a color holding ideal affection of 

each thing, 
And thus the homage of all the universe does to 

Him forever cling. 
The throne whereon the Father's seated is sus- 

tain'd by truth of all that sway ; 
And all there is which does not honor, but oppose, 

of itself 11 fade away. 
Before the throne extends a perpetual mansion, 

but not made by hand ; 
And the power, which supports the throne, will 

cause it to eternally stand : 
That mansion is more spacious than all ocean, 

earth and air ; 
Curtained by colors, which are pure to all light 

that is fair ; 
Nor containing anything that'd bring the faintest 

shadow play; 
But pure in colors, which beautify light of the 

purest ray. 
All beauty has its perfection in the Father, — 

there's ever staid, 
Was wrought in its purest blending when the eter- 
nal throne was made ; 



89 



But, beauty is not alone in the things, which sight 

to the mind reveals ; 
The grander beauties are in light of wisdom that 

to the soul appeals : 
If with God be principles which are purest, wis- 
dom and virtue are these ; 
For beauty which eyes behold seem ascribed to 

visible forms, plants and trees. 
Then since the soul is made to feel what the mind 

reflects or the eyes may see ; 
So in their pureness virtue, beauty and light in 

that mansion all agree : 
There all hunger and thirst are supplied exact by 

what is just to seek, 
Which' s so complete, its fullness is not expressable 

by human speech. 
The thing there of least beauty is more splendid 

than all this world would make ; 
Thing of least worth the accumulated wealth of 

earth woud not effect : 
There is where the riches of all nations their final 

place is said will find, 
Which are not what men hold most dear, but the 

fruit of virtuous soul and mind. 
Why Christ, to the heights of all perfection, has 

thus attain' d ; 
That position in God's glory will forever retain. 
Is a question deep and serious, but, if in wisdom 

pondered well 
To the heart that is pure and faithful, this deepest 

truth to it will tell ; 
That Christ's Spirit from there was permitted to 

descend to man's lowest state. 
Which quicken' d purest essence of humanity to 

share man's common fate. 
When his work was finish' d, he was placed in low- 
est depths of infernal space ; 
Where the Demon Ruler himself had feared to en- 
ter, — yet, his steps to trace, — 

90 



From there ascended, not to the lowest, but hu- 
manity's highest state; 
Left proof that, for what's acceptable unto God, 

there's no unholy place. 
When before and after death he did, with all his 

powers for man, atone. 
He to heaven ascended with victory of all that's 

beneath the throne, — 
And the Father with him seated, on the throne 

to ever dwell ; 
Saying, whereas I sent you all things you have 

accomplished well ; 
And here with me, over all that is ancient, or mod- 
em, or yet to be, 
I will give you supremacy,— -glory of Hght,— joy 

of eternal ease ; 
And with My own glory crown you for the great 

victory you have won ; 
To all who may behold you, be more dazzHng than 

the radiant sun : 
In time, from space, expel all other hght and law ; 
Leave no other source to seek, or from whence to 

draw. 
With me your immortal Spirit hath ever been ; 
Your human form, gathered glory of ancient man : 
Save for Myself and all attending crew, for man is 

made the highest state ; 
And a way for him is paved from the most infernal 

depth to heaven's gate. 
Which will open to all whom the Father's goodness 

to that entrance won. 
But, all other ways lead to a point, where there is 
place to enter none. 
In that mansion wisdom holds the key that jun- 
locks the door. 
Where pure knowledge and perfect understanding 

are in store 
For all who seek them as a gift precious from 
above. 



Given as a favor of the Father's perfect love, 
Which introduces the highest Author of beauty to 

the soul of man ; 
Acquainting him with each principle, a unit and 

variegated plan : 
Wisdom is also the light that holds the secrets of 

the realm of truth, 
Where virtue, justice and equity are associated 

in youth ; 
Wisdom also holds honor, riches and glory in 

bounty of her hand, 
Which she gives as a merit according as God reck- 
ons the deeds of man : 
By wisdom the raiment of the Most High is select- 
ed and made ; 
By her the pure sparkling jewels in His crown are 

fittingly laid ; 
By her that raiment is fitted with exactness so to 

show 
From whence the perfection of all things begin to 

weel and flow ; 
By her that crown is set over the mind and visage 

most clear. 
Since purest dignity and most dazzling glory 

gather there, 
Man's raiment's all the beauty of nature purified 

by celestial light ; 
Under the inspection of the Father by wisdom's 

pure and perfect sight, 
Which augments in brighter glories, as is nearer 

drawn to Him, 
The soul that sought and found in Him a life pure 

from taint of sin : 
The food man's soul to feed is sweeter and is purer 

made, 
As he gathers where virtue's most glorious worth 

is staid. 
As man rises to higher realms courser principles 

of his soul are lost ; 

92 



Like gold is made purer and more precious as it is 

being freed from dross : 
Yet, the soul of man will be somewhat base, 

through the endless day that runs. 
If compared to Him whose glory far exceeds the 

brightness of the sun : 
Man's pursuit of gain will be to gather full that 

virtuous goal. 
Which makes more rich, and which makes more 

pure the augmenting wealth of soul : 
Man's pursuit of knowledge will be to understand 

and know 
How full, and how rich those most precious gifts 

can rise and grow. 
For four thousand years, since first this flight of 

time began ; 
And during four thousand years from the advent 

of man, 
Wisdom was cautious and prudent to gather w^ell 

and true ; 
And to carry safel}^ down the hurrying years that 

flew. 
That lordly principle and personage of the human 

race, 
Which the Holy Spirit of God in all things kept 

pure and chaste ; 
Until humanity in its essence was perfect made 

and purified ; 
Adorned with beauty and glory such as befitted a 

celestial bride, — 
Who, after fully serving humanity in all things 

that make it blest, 
Rises through colloquial scenes to serenity of ce- 
lestial rest, — 
Made Vice- Regent in power and glory to One 

Eternal and Supreme, 
Whose dominion is through all space, o'er each 

body heavenly or terrene. 



93 



God, the Most High, over all things has rule, 

and by them thus esteem' d; 
With Him their first beauty and true glore e'er 

are kept pure and clean, — 
Then, all who would seek to know the highest 

state to them assigned, 
By truth and wisdom, must seek it in scope of 

that perfect mind ; 
And through the principles, by which that state 

is formed, 
Ascend its heights and prove their right by them 

adorned : 
For all your joys and all your glory acclaim to 

God the praise ; 
From thence view the Father's glories, riches of 

eternal days, — 
Through day interminable these glories will with 

new beauty glow. 
As wisdom adds to the mind a light of a more re- 
fulgent flow. 
Man's soul will gather the pure principles, which 

enrich the ether' al plain ; 
Yet, purer beauties, richer treasures, higher glo- 
ries, for the soul remain. 
While man's soul is purer made, and is thus sus- 
tain' d in upward flight. 
His sight is freed from gloom of age and passes on 

through brighter light 
Toward where youth's first beauties, in highest 

state, set forever unchanged, 
Whose age is wisdom abounding with knowledge 

of time no date has named. 
No soul has e'er lower sank, or to higher plane 

arose 
Than the realm of the principles, that do that 

soul compose. 
Man's soul's destin'd to rise as it absorbs principles 

of eternal light ; 



94 



Thus being freed from each shade of night, it con- 
stantly wings its silent flight 

Through increasing splendor and rising glory of a 
more radiant day; 

Yet teeming with more magnificent beauties, 
paleing before purer ray ; 

While, through time interminable, and eternity 
continues its roll, 

These augmenting beauties and riches will con- 
tinue to the mind and soul : 

Then since the mind and soul of man, in grandeur 
seeking, can know no bound ; 

Neither can the perfection of eternal glories by 
man be found ; 

But, if, with perfection of beauty, man seeks to 
enrich his soul ; 

His only knowledge be to understand the source 
of wisdom's goal, 

He must ascend in upward flight through time 
sempiternal ; 

Unceasingly bathe his mind and soul in light su- 
pernal ; 

Must forever be a pilgrim in an aerial way ; 

Ever nearing the source that supplies light of ce- 
lestial day. 
The soul, to each realm through which it passes, 
must be congenial made ; 

And only thus, to a more lofty realm, a foundation 
can be laid : 

And as we slowly rise to those realms, that so 
distant are. 

Our souls grow more pregnant with the light of 
celestial fire, 

Which pregnancy can ne'er in time accomplish, 
or in fullness mature ; 

But to ever expand in greatness, and in principle 
grow more pure. 
Then since Christ has safely passed from the 
highest to the lowest realm ; 

95 



Conquering and subjecting each force that sought 

his soul to overwhelm; 
Thus experiencing the influence each evil in life 

can sway ; 
Knows weight of accumulated woes of hell, what 

each obscures from day ; 
So he knows precisely the punishment each sin is 

due, — 
How the Almighty in his judgment set each thing 

so true : 
That it is impossible for an error, by His justice, 

to be made. 
Since a reckoning of each principle by the poise of 

His scale is laid, 
Which scale will not wear by use or vary through 

length of time ; 
Because its poise is kept by equal powers of God's 

mind. 
So Christ has stood in the nethermost depths, there 

felt and saw-tried, 
In the scale of God's justice, weight of all power 

deep and wide ; 
There saw, prevailing o'er infernal woes, power of 

Almighty Love ; 
Also noting the weight and gloom of each realm, 

in his ascent above. 
With the Father he reigns o'er all things, with 

victory triumphantly crown' d; 
Robed with perfection of all principles, as well 

their strength and beauty bound : 
Bearing in his soul and mind perfect knowledge of 

each sin-inflicted woe ; 
Also the mark of every woun(i dealt to truth by 

sin's vindictive blow : 
When a mortal soul appeals to God for relief from 

each infesting ill, 
Then these wounds are shown and knowledge pled 

to present what mortals cannot tell ; 



96 



So nearest God these feelings come, since they're 
not of Him part ; 

But through the love He bears His Son they 
touch His inmost heart : 

Thus through grace a soul is freed from sin, when 
relief is sought aright ; 

From gloom of sin and darkness turned to heav'n 
in peace of silent flight : 

The mind and the soul are purged from sin, and 
charged with light pure shining ; 

Unlike the course pursued before, strength of last- 
ing truth imbibing — 

Drawn by force of understanding into the current 
of augmenting peace, 

Whose purity will in richness of principle unceas- 
ingly increase ; 

While purer essence of truth in grander lights are 
more fittingly blended ; 

Virtues more dazzling grow as majesty of God is 
nearer ascended ; 

Each moment the soul is bom anew to more last- 
ing principles of youth ; 

The heart more virtuous made by increasing light 
of all availing truth. 
When from this mortal sphere, in light of truth, 
we upward fly, 

We bid farewell to kindred feelings of a fleshly tie ; 

By the most Holy Spirit of truth begot and of wis- 
dom bom ; 

Until, in fraternal love, freed from rage of passion's 
ruling storm ; 

In a progressive brotherhood, flowing into the 
lasting calm of youth, 

We nearer, in bliss of soul, the gathering splendors 
of eternal truth. 

As we pass to more perfect light, as if from tint of 
shade. 

Thus we pass to more youthful states, as if from 
gloom of age. 

97 



In passing to youth we must slowly pass from age 

to age ; 
But, in passing to light we leave behind the realm 

of shade : 
Where we find perpetual youth we also find an- 
cient of days ; 
But, in the source of light we find vanished all 

influence of shades. 
In God's throne we find beauty's external per- 
fections in purity combine 
Paying homage to more excellent majesty, which 

their beauty incline ; 
For He, who sits on the throne possesses majesty 

far more excellent. 
Beyond the wonders of the throne, than beauty's 

charms, in that structure, are spent. 
Then, if the throne be the crowning beauty of all 

things which God did create ; 
To find majestic beauties which crown His Being 

is beyond reach of date : 
To crown a mind so excellent, a heart so free, a 

soul so pure 
Is a malady to human mind beyond its power to 

cure — 
But, if we cast aside our frailties, and trust that 

power divine, 
A healing balm will be those beauties through a 

never ending time. 
Then, since ignorance, the chief of maladies to the 

human mind, be ; 
Its cure's the power of truth shed by resplendent 

light of purity : 
For such cure to be effective, there must be in the 

soul a spark divine. 
Which gathers most full and free that virtuous 

light, the strength of the heart and mind ; 
That light is such by which we see, comprehend, 

know and understand : 



98 



Reveals universal mist'ries to faculties of erring 

man; 
Arouses the dormant soul by expelling the mist 

that o'er it holds sway ; 
Strenthens life's powers with intellectual splen- 
dors of eternal day. 
Indulge the Skeptic another question, and but 

this, 
What produced the grandeur of the joys of Eden's 

bliss ? 
Why to man consigned the riches and beauties of 

that blissful scene, 
But, not permitted to abide the pleasures of its 

youthful green ? 
What's Paradise or heaven, if this be not it? 
Or is the soul of man, for greater pleasures, fit? 
While man lived in due obedience to God's 

most holy laws ; 
Resigned the right to Him who knows the source 

of every cause 
To cast by truth of wisdom's light the lot of each 

deed 
To its goal, where the force of such act doth bear 

in speed : 
While love of truth and reconciliation, man to 

God's pure highness, led, — 
In peace repos'd, — his head pressed the softest 

pillow, — his soul the downiest bed : 
While man and all things else kept the state of 

their created lot, — 
Their ev'ry act producing one universal bhss with- 
out blot ; 
No evil thought or meditated wrong perform' d 

through vengeful act or deed ; 
Finding most good in universal bliss, — receiving 

full heav'n's promis'd meed, — 
Bden and her epoch, then was that day of created 

bliss, 

LOFC, 

99 



When all things conformed to the will of God 

without amiss ; 
When from man no joy was withheld on charge or 

for fault of sin ; 
No knowledge fait' ring, or power of sight with 

tears growing dim ; 
No wrong to judge, no vain pride to humble or 

abate, 
But all to reward with gifts of an exalted state. 
All things were created to supply some just 

need of man ; 
Until for man accurs'd in full strength yield' d the 

fruitful land. 
While all in full strength of joy gave full their 

true source of yield ; 
Pleasure reign' d complete, in proportion as each 

heart could feel : 
Until man falter' d and sank beneath the wave of 

sin. 
That bliss in no part failed, or sorrow invited in : 
Since all was given for man's glory and to exalt 

his peace. 
In proportion to his wrongs, their usefulness and 

pleasure ceas'd: 
Then for transgression of man the earth ceas'd 

her full fruitage to yield ; 
Not only man, but all creation was doom'd that 

great hurt to fell ; 
Thus, when man, from the garden of bliss, for dis- 
obedience, was cast, 
All nature felt the frown of Eden over her richest 

prospects pass. 
To nature this seems quite unjust ; but to her 

more so to yield 
To sinful man her full treasures, — than for her 

his woes to feel. 
Man is not responsible alone to God for slight- 
ing holy truth, 



100 



But to all nature for the right to give the full 

strength of fruitful growth. 
vSince man is unworthy to receive, nature cannot 

give more than is due ; "" 

Else, before the pure and holy laws of heaven, she 

would be sinful too. 
For man, nature is denied the full pleasure of her 

fruit to yield ; 
But, to man, in full measure, she ever does his due 

portion seal. — 
Nature is e'er pleased to pour full man's portion, 

but loath to hold 
Any part of her lavish gifts from the longings of 

his soul. 
In ev'ry clime we see the due measure of man's 

acts, given, , . , 

By nature fixed, under just graduatmg laws ot 

heaven : 
Of times the kingdom of nature's scorched by 

power of wrath divine. 
To reward man for the wrongs done through evils 

that his heart dezined ; 
Of times nature frowns and heav'n refuses to shed 

one lambent ray serene ; 
Or supply one crystal drop to preserve the beauties 

of the fairest scene : 
Nature in the depth of her soul is ever yearning 

man to restore 
To Eden's bower and crown him with beauty of 

wisdom's ancient lore : 
This heav'n would permit, if man would to the 

holy spirit of truth return ; 
And drink deep and free of crystal purity flowing 

from that holy urn. 
Which God fill'd with truth and virtue's purest 

essence and cans' d to over run 
Infinite space with radiant influence brighter than 

the glowing sun ; 



101 



Which, if man alone takes to appease and slake 

the hunger and thirst of soul, 
His life will rival the diamond's purest beauty set 

in richest gold ; 
His riches would exceed the treasured wealth of 

past and future time ; 
His understanding in great splendor grow to 

knowledge pure sublime. — 
But, man seems prone to drink from that other 

urn, which is over filled 
With bitterest essence that, from most woeful 

things, can be distilled. 
Both these urns God, in his supreme justice, has 

seen fit to so fill, 
That he may justly reward the service due his 

most holy will : 
One sheds that beautiful rich influence that an 

Eden makes ; 
The other the gloomy horrors which a soul in hell 

partakes. 
Eden, then, is a shadowing of that heavenly Para- 
dise, 
Which here is thus only felt ; but in heaven is given 

precise : 
As we may here enjoy the influence of that hea- 
venly state ; 
As we here depart from that influence, the bitter 

urn must taste. 
Then, as the celestial glories rise in magnificence 

more supreme ; 
So the gathering gloom of hell must run in the 

other like extreme ; 
As one in increasing splendor rise, or in mantling 

beauties spread ; 
So the other in darkness sinks, gathering dismal 

woes instead. — 
Then, since Eden be the supreme bliss for mor- 
tality designed. 



102 



Which is only shadowing of that joy tO] happy 

souls consigned — 
Paradise, then, must be that state fill'd with holy 

riches deep and pure. 
Which in richer beauties endless rise, until in 

greatness grown obscure. 
As these riches thus in beauty rise through like 

splendor of eternal day ; 
So the soul will find an upward flight in like glory 

of celestial ray.— 
The goal of life, then, must be a passing from the 

shadow to the real ; 
The bliss of eternit}^ be to feel richer beauties, 

which less reveal. 
The soul of man, then Sir, is fit such pleasure 

and wealth to find 
As it seeks by principles of truth through never 

ending time. 
Which must be to always lave the mind and soul 

in purer light ; 
And pass through more radiant day freed from 

lingering shades of night ; 
Until it fades before that godliness, which is ever 

wholly clean, — 
Which alike pass on to states in itself greater and 

yet more supreme : 
Thus His greatness rise on in equal merit to the 

highest name. 
Through perpetual greatness rise the glory of eter- 
nal reign. 
Man passed from Eden to life, a state of uncer- 
tain fame; 
While here awaiting death's dreaded call, — seal 

of mortal claim — 
He fixes the anchor of his sail in the shining truths 

of heaven's light ; 
Or leaves that sail without a rudder to drift on 

through endless shades of night. 



103 



With the realm of mortal shade, there are three 

states beneath the throne, 
Which man must travel before he can to the eter- 
nal come : 
First from mortality to death must pass before 

immortal birth ; 
Then through the immortal state must pass to 

shore of eternal worth : 
Then, if a thing that is mortal can be immortal 

made. 
Such, then, cannot be equal to that of eternal age. 
That eternal state of peace begins, where imper- 
fection's name is unknown ; 
While, yet, there must be states super eternal 

equaling His Highness grown. 
The way to trace such majesty, man can never 

find. 
For His Eternal greatness is like ne'er ending 

time. 
Just as mortality cannot into immortality flow, 
Neither can things of perfection, the things of 

imperfection, know: 
By God's high truths mortality is put off and a 

thing immortal made ; 
So by a like law immortality does to the eternal 

shore lead. 
Then, since from this mortal realm, each does to 

a higher lead ; 
Alike from this mortal realm the infernal so recced. 
Inhabitants of the celestial deep are to their 

realms confined 
By spirits made congenial to laws of the realm so 

assigned : 
What immortal angels are in life to the welfare of 

mortal man ; 
The seraphs are to immortal angels beyond the 

eternal strand. 
If man, by obedience to immortal laws, gains 

freedom of life, 

104 



Then, may he commune with immortal angels on 

a shore free from strife ; 
As do such angels, along the blissful scenes of that 

eternal strand. 
Hold communion with seraphs concerning the 

eternal state of man. — 
So does the pure light of God Eternal, on man im- 
perfectly shine. 
Which by mortal man is sought and cherished as 

a light holy divine ; 
To clothe his soul in richer vesture through the 

lap of ne'erending time. 
As he nears those more glorious states, where 

superior splendor find. 
Mortality is a state that alike inclines to each 

extreme, 
So pure light of God and deep shades of hell 

are each imperfect scene — 
Here the fate of man is fixed, whither he will in 

true greatness ever climb, 
Or fix his course in infernal space where to aug- 
ment woes e'er so incline. 
Man, we find from land of eternal riches, did 

ceaselessly immerge, 
Through celestial states of beauty, to find himself 

at that awful verge : 
The soul, yet, through magnetic splendor holding 

that purity most profound. 
Stood gazing at hell's misty horrors, too deep for 

eternity to sound. 
Why man was cast from that perpetual greatness 

to that narrow space 
Was because mortality did in love of soul beauty 

so deface — 
A thing may, its lowest level, quicker than a mo- 
ment find ; 
But to be made like purest spark eternity can 

alone refine. 



105 



The gathering of that love to the soul is pleasure 
of divine delight, 

So man in asscending unto God finds blessings of 
purer, sweeter light. 

Man is placed to enjoy all God's blessings most 
sweet and most pure, 

Gath'ring in all its richest forces from a spark most 
obscure ; 

Which is e'er flowing into a deeper stream of ho- 
lier truth 

As we journey through the gathering sources to 
more lasting youth ; 

To where )^outh's supremest beauties, by wis- 
dom's most glowing power of art, 

Are made the age of most rever'd greatness due 
Him of deepest purest heart. 

Thus we find to enjoy is to ever continue in up- 
ward flight, 

That fills the soul with richer beauties gathering 
in the purer light. 

Mortality, then, we rightly designate as that mid- 
dle ground, 

Where the soul receives a heavenly spark of beau- 
ty sweet and profound; 

While to the other hand the dismal source of eter- 
nal night is found ; 

And slowly sinks into deeper gloom as the soul is 
heavier made 

By gathering influence from infinite depths of in- 
fernal shades ; 

Alike bitterness of increasing horror, gathering 
to its aid: 

One rises through intellectual purity to shine in 
truth's abode; 

The other sinks into a deep'ning shadow beneath 
its gathering load. 
The Millenium is that state where the Saints 
of God will reign 



106 



With Christ a thousand years in splendor and 

freedom from all pain ; 
The length of which time is reckon' d in proportion 

to the greatness of light, 
A.3 the beauty of immortality surpasses that of 

mortal sight. 
These are they who shall pass on to the joys of 

eternal rest. 
Join perpetual bright'iiing in freedom from the 

second death, — 
During which time Satan shall from that realm be 

bound. 
That unruffled peace reign over that holy ground. 
The Millenium is perfection of that peace that 

sweeps the mortal breast 
In silent grandeur with heavenly sweetness from 

the shore of lasting rest ; 
The joy there is but a current passing to a realm 

of more perfect bliss, 
Which floats a softer sweeter current in streams of 

beauty rivaling this, 
In proportion as the light frees supernal beau- 
ties from the shades of mist. 
So will increase in like greatness as we nearer life's 

eternal goal ; 
And so in like greatness will increase riches and 

splendor of the soul. 
They w4io've not put on the w^hole armor and 

cast all things else away 
Must in death and darkness sleep until the great 

resurrection day; 
Till Satan will have been set free, — gather'd to war 

Gog and Magog, — 
Lav siege about the saintly camp, the beloved 

City of their Cod, 
Which will be protected from such rage by a show- 
er of celestial fire ; 
Which will drive Satan to infernal night to writhe 

forever in despair. 

107 



When all things will have been vSubdued to God's 

eternal law, 
He who subdued will reverence God with majestic 

awe; 
Be subject unto Him from whom he received his 

glory and power, 
Then, as is said, Gabrel shall stand and proclaim 

the time appointed hour, — 
Then shall the sea, and death, and hell deliver up 

their dead. 
Which' 11 stand before Almighty God to hear their 

sentence read. 
Christ is God's standard by which he will judge the 

lives of all men ; 
As they meet that standard glory will be given 

unto them. 
So will all beings their just level, by that perfect 

standard find ; 
Be adjusted unto glory through perpetual lapse 

of time : 
Then, if, in this life, we no resemblance of Christ's 

glory wear. 
Where can we hope for eternity, but in endless 

despair? 
Humanity tnade perfect, the splendor of God's 

glory hold. 
Seated at His right hand on a throne of beauty 

laid in gold — 
Excepting God, what can greater be, than life per- 
fect in majestic awe ; 
Confess' d as God's glory, made the standard of 

his eternal holy law ? 
All that's beautiful, pure, perfect and holy be- 
neath God's throne found. 
Compose the throne of Christ whose's with the 

splendor of God's glory crown' d. 
Christ, then's the fulness of humanity, its beauty, 

glory and renown. 



108 



In whom a fulness and richness of all things unto 

godliness abound. 
Through humanity there flows from perfection 

of eternal life a spark ; 
Alike principles of metal, which hold a degree of 

the perfect part, 
Which taken as it is, the base metal destroys the 

use of high degree ; 
Which may be wrought into beauty and useful- 
ness past our power to see ; 
Through a process of tempering carried under due 

science of that art. 
By just graduation, carry all from the lower to the 

higher part : 
As intrinsic value of metal may be increased along 

that line. 
It will be freed by degrees from the devastating 

hand of time ; 
But, to be safe there can be no remittance of that 

great process of art. 
Else time through eternity will be reducing all to 

a baser part : 
So the true religion is that science of human light 
To temper human principles into a nobler life ; 
That e'er passes onward and upward in freedom 

of the truth ; 
That ever fills our lives with purer gems of super- 
nal youth. 
If man does not always seek the application of 

that most cogent art. 
Sin will gradually darken the portals of his soul, 

his mind and heart ; 
Sink him below redemption into the dread horrors 

of ignoble dark. 
Lives like all things else in originality were but 

one; 
Existing first in chaos before creation's work 

begun. 



109 



Which is truly clear, and he who, earnestly, looks 

may most plainly see. 
Through all creatures, a most noble rev'rence for 

the life of high degree : 
Alike figure, through the many qualities of metal 

find, if we search. 
Bach bearing a likeness leading through the others 

to one of noblest worth. 
That mass of life was like oar containing metals 

of many kind, 
According to its intrinsic worth wisdom did each 

so refine : 
Through each process from the greater the baser 

quality flows, 
Till in due degree from out that mass the life of 

man arose, — 
And as each form of life was gathered from out 

that great mass 
So each clayey mould was fashioned according to 

its class — 
During which time no creature had e'er demanded 

a counsel call, 
Till to form a creature superior in beauty to it all : 
Wisdom looking into humanity saw it in love and 

beauty rise. 
In fullness unto Him whose glory and splendor in 

deepest grandeur lies, 
Beyond the flight of fancy or the sight of intel- 
lectual eyes. 
To find the perfection of whose works engage the 

counsel of the wise ; 
When they find the splendor of one see it into 

richer beauty flow. 
So the works and beauty of Almighty God in cease- 
less grandeur grow : 
Saw humanity in purity worthy the glory of God 

above ; 
And if by man in honor kept should be crowned 

by His Almighty love. 

110 



Wisdom seeing that her works alone were far in- 
sufficient for man, 

Ask advice of Him who to all in supreme majesty- 
gives command ; 

Who beyond the gather' d perfection of all things 
is yet more supreme ; 

While for joy and the perfection of our own being 
must forever lean 

With most adoring love, to Him who beyond con- 
ception is pure and clean, — 

So His image we are whose beauty surpasses the 
fancies of a dream. 

God looking, in his greatness, through all ages and 
eternity of time 

For a limit to man's greatness and found it in the 
splendor of His mind : 

If worthily sought, to His riches and glory, would 
ever so incline ; 

So He to wisdom said let's make man worthy of 
thy immortality. 

And let My eternity be the only source of his 
reality. 

As each form of life beneath humanity in due 
graduation fall, 

So is man unto Him who is the beauty, riches, 
life and light of all. 

As Christ, the Lord of humanity, is the standard 
of created life. 

So his Lord is the beauty and the grandeur of the 
everlasting light. 

Under that same standard by which all were cre- 
ated, it seems to me. 

Will be the standard of that great Judgment of 
man, that is yet to be. 
There is for each creature an exact state of felic- 
ity, 

Set in keeping with its intellectual abiUty. 

Intellect is the source of all pleasure, which gives 
in due weight 

111 



The riches of all things, as we recoginze their pur- 
est state : 

God's pure intellect is the central force, and of all 
virtues most supreme ; 

Of all things the splendor, making them what they 
are instead of what they seem : 

Intellect is essence of God's own grandeur, and 
that everlasting light ; 

The essence of His supernal brightness, and to all 
things the source of sight. 

From that essential principle, all greatness is in- 
fluence grown. 

For by that all have their benig, and by that their 
relation known : 

That is the seat of God's eternal bliss, supremacy 
and law ; 

That is the influence begetting praise of most ma- 
jestic awe. 

Of all things Intellect is chief, and over all holds 
supremacy just ; 

For its wealth and grandeur, no other source can 
too greatly hunger or thirst : 

By that was truth begotten, and from the womb 
of chaos freed by force ; 

Of truth were the daughters of virtue bom, par- 
ent — age of the same source ; 

Of which wisdom is the fairest, queen of all that 
beauteous host. 

But all their beauty before the Original's in bright- 
ness lost. 
Intelligence found the usefulness of all things 
in the hand of truth. 

Which gave consciousness of worth, and the beauty 
of perpetual youth : 

The truth of a thing is what it is, but its virtue is 
its force 

To give all its worth to the universe and gather 
from that source. 



112 



In all creatures, intellect is the true heart, power 
involuntary ; 

Is intelligence flowing from God, but with man 
his being primary. — 

Which is the supremacy of humanity, — the wis- 
dom, the might, — 

The cleansing of the heart, and the mind, and the 
soul, — purest depths of life : 

It prepares this temple for the Master's use, makes 
it sweet and sure. 

Purifying all vessels for His service with oil soft 
and pure. 

God, alone, is pure perfect intellect, which is not 
mere knowing ; 

But perfection of all things good, — to us an influ- 
ence growing 

Ever brighter ; as we seek the truth of that intel- 
lectual worth 

We are gradually but surely, receiving a more 
noble birth. 

Every consciousness, influence, or impulse, that 
moves God's holy breast. 

Is justly owing some source of intellect, which 
completes His perfect rest. 

In God's intellect the principles of his Being are 
equally true, 

Crown' d by charity, most excellent beauty, giving 
all an equal view. 

Then, since all God's principles do an equal majes- 
ty thus include. 

So one power cannot on the others rights in any 
way intrude. 

Charity's the supreme touch of all God's greatness, 
where true majesty lies ; 

The perfect intellect, where all beauty in most ex- 
cellent grandeur rise : 

Charity is alike to all things, nor can her greatness 
e'er be found ; 



113 



Of justice and equity their majesty, their essence 

most profound : 
Charity in human Hfe is that influence that brings 

man nearest God, 
Which makes all the virtues of life an associated 

counsel for good. 
Life without charity is like material for a great 

structure laid 
In such disorder, a building void of beauty and in 

disgust is made, — 
While, if same material was laid under due science 

of art 
The building would stand in glowing beauty, form- 
ing one perfect part ; 
Bach part growing more magnificent in beauty, 

when set as should. 
In exact order, which increases in forming one 

perfect good : 
What the material is to the building so is virtue 

to life ; 
What art is in building, is character in setting vir- 
tue aright : 
So to character is charity, what to art is science ; 
As art in science's spent, character in charity's 

confident : 
As it is art in the building and not science that we 

see. 
So is character in life call'd beautiful, not charity: 
As science is lost in its love and its usefulness to all 
So charity the all of life we can her but rightly call. 
In beautiful lives we see the influence of charity, 

not herself ; 
While she is the supreme beauty of all, she is never 

seen, only felt. — 
While never seen, yet, above all she is much more 

admired ; 
Her voice more tender and much sweeter than all 

else e'er heard : 



114 



She is that worth to all things what they cannot be 

to themselves ; 
She's that unsearchable wealth not laid in store or 

plac'd on shelves ; 
Of all hearts most sympathetic, feeling the deepest 

power of touch ; 
Always exact, never in this giving too Httle, in that 

too much : 
She is never idle, ever diligent in finding some 

good to do ; 
She only lives, but in that deep silent beauty, 

wherein her grandeur grew. 
She may be liken to some flower, in silence bom 

and spent unseen ; 
Breathing ambrosial fragrance ; clothed in perfect 

beauty, o'er living green ; 
Stood enjoying the profound bliss of soul, that 

selfishness had never flush'd, — 
Unconscious of its wealth and beauty, living in 

all hearts that felt its touch ; 
Only alike, as that ideal flower is queen of floral 

wealth, — 
Unseen by eye or self, only enjoy'd by those its 

influence felt. 
If that flower had been seen, its deep tender in- 
fluence would' ve been lost; 
The greedy eye would have wasted all in glutting 

on the tender dross. 
Visual beauty is external and transitory, but 

serves to show 
The deep silent course of majestic truth, from 

whence these mighty beauties flow : 
Such beauty has a noble purpose if man would 

seek to find 
Its awful majesty, quietly stirring the heart and 

mind, — 
Which moves the soul to delight in that gentle 

power which draws 



115 



A most tender reverence for pure eternal source 

of laws. 
It is the deep secret laws, which are eternal, that 

leads us to admire 
The perfect work of an Almighty Hand alone 

which will stand test of fire. 
What is wrought in God has stay eternal, yet the 

outward veil will fade. 
Leave God's laws standing in ancient beauty, 

when all else in waste be laid. 
They, who sought life in Him who gave laws most 

pure and eternal, 
Will abide with Christ, clothed with native light 

of love supernal ; 
Admiring Him who to them is riches, beauty, 

glory, love, life divine. 
While to all who disbelieve Him such is the power 

of wrath unconfin'd, — 
For a man's belief becomes his faith and trust, 

with it he will sink or climb, — 
In its light and beauty he will rejoice, or in its 

night must weep and pine. 
Those whose faith did not sore with infinite 

grandeur, in God's perfection deep; 
Whose glory can know no bounds, or his greatness 

end in time's eternal sweep : 
Until Satan's war is over, must in ethics of dust 

repose 
In forgetfulness of slumber, until the Judgment 

Day disclose 
That transitory things have reached the day that 

gives perpetual doom ; 
Proclaim lost in brighter day radiant sun, melting 

stars and pale moon : 
Must appear before ineffable brightness of God, 

source and light divine ; 
May, for lack of faith in that source to abide eter- 
nal circling of time. 



116 



Suffer everlasting death before things so pure, yet, 
to grow more supreme ; 

As the dross and darkness sink before the pow- 
er of that pure heaHng stream. 

Which ineffable brightness flows in currents of 
joy most calm and serene ; 

Awakes the soul to living ecstacy, in the light of 
that rising scene. 
When the immortal reign shall end, Christ the 
the key to God return ; 

Then, like the mortal at its close, so must the im- 
mortal bum 

Before the mighty truths of God, that with eter- 
nal beauty glow ; 

All that survive immortality, like pure metal from 
out dross' 11 flow ; 

And so continue until that pure spark alone will 
shine. 

Which survives wreck of ages, brightens beyond 
range of time. 

At the close of the immortal reign, on the shore of 
ceaseless light. 

All who are unworthy will be swept with dross 
into endless night. 
All who cannot survive that realm from whence 
Lucifer fell, 

Seems must find their eternal place within a sink- 
ing hell — 

Men, like Lucifer, who refuse loyalty to Eternal 
God of hght, 

Must writhe with him in the deep gathering hor- 
rors of everlasting night. 

Lucifer must have immortal been, sank to like 
depths of infernal space ; 

His nature was to the true light repugnant, said 
he did not like the place. 

Then, shall I say that man must pray, until he 
survive that stately fall. 



117 



Be approved by God's holy call, gather'd in eter- 
nal light of all ? 

End of First Book 



THE BEAUTIES AND POWERS THAT BE 

BOOK II 

The Great I Am, in time beyond the conception 

of the human thought ; 
In the morning of Eternity, proclaim' d all not of 

him is naught : 
By the perfection of his own Being, he asserted his 

dignity; 
Intellect's infinite depths of purity and beauty 

gave supremacy : 
Crowned by Charity, the essential glory of eternal 

worth. 
From whence flow all grandeur, all power, all Hght 

of majestic birth. 
On God's perpetual goodness the pillars of Eter- 
nity rest ; 
All the materials flow from a point within His 

sacred breast — 
Intellect directed the hand that that mightiest 

structure laid ; 
Charity, one the influence and purpose of the 

structure, made — 
Wisdom God made to light his temple, and truth 

to proclaim his hand ; 
Virtue to adorn with love; Grace and Mercy to 

save fallen man. 

118 



Yet, there's another realm or principle, which 
seems of greater age than good, 

Since, with us darkness is before light, so we sup- 
pose ignorance to God, — 

But these two great principles are in age co-eter- 
nal; 

One the source of all good, the other of night in- 
fernal. 
While Ignorance lay slumbering in confidence, 
of perpetual reign, 

Evil set contemplating what could there be for 
her to hold in disdain. — 

While in the other realm intellect was planning 
Eternal Day of life ; 

Good calculating the rescue of usefulness from 
slothful reign of night. 

While that awful silence reigned, no motion the 
solemn stillness broke ; 

Intellect investigated all, but, yet, not a word had 
spoke : 

With her nature most throughly saturated all that 
did repose, 

Left untouched by vital powers, which glory of 
living light disclose. 

Before God spoke, intellect did prepare all things 
His voice to truly hear ; 

With intellectual light to vitalize elements of va- 
pid air. 

When all things to God were set aright he utter' d 
forth his glorious voice ; 

Deep in heart of hearts Charity felt eternal good 
in her soul rejoice : 

All things good saw and worshiped the everlasting 
God of light; 

The morning stars sang together, their joy pierced 
the gloom of night ; 

The sons of God shouted louder praise, their glad- 
ness spread the genial ray. 



119 



Night it drove away and claim' d the universe for 

reign of eternal day. 
While God spoke ignorance from her lethargy 

awoke in great surprise, — 
She saw herself, — she hated, — and her soul cursed 

with a curse that ne'er dies. 
All things now awoke, — Satan rag'd, — the two 

powers a war involve ; 
Satan by himself swore that he would the eternal 

light dissolve. 
War is now declared by Satan ; the battle ground 

is ready laid ; 
Satan has declared, the sacred precincts of light, 

he will invade. 
And blot that everlasting light and its Author 

forever from view, — 
Quietly to his realm again retire, and his useless 

sleep renew. 
The Almighty God, the Imperial General, most 

majestic stood, 
Within himself supreme, proposing to enlist all in 

their proper good ; 
To make all things useful and in him the universe 

enjoy, 
In that God made it possible for all to that end 

employ. 
In that service all must obey the commands of 

the imperial law ; 
For success all, the sword of mercy from pure 

hearts of love, must surely draw ; 
Bear the shield of God's everlasting power, and 

dart the spear of truth ; 
Seek his riches of everlasting wealth, beauty of 

celestial youth. 
All God's soldiers must seek him as the only wealth 

beauty, light and good, 
And against the emeny must stand a universal 

brotherhood ; 



120 



God's army must trust all to the General's wisdom 

and his mighty hand ; 
Success depends on a faithful execution of ev'ry 

command. 
The General relies on his supremacy in every 

virtue ; 
His superior and essential goodness in every thing 

that's true. 
This leader is perfect in ev'ry tactic, and moveth 

but for some good ; 
Acknowledges no superior or equal, as other lead- 
ers would ; 
Exact in every effort, never leading a superfluous 

force, — 
No point within the universe, but's fortified with 

an infinite source : 
Ever present at each post, — ever operating su- 
premely there ; 
Not supreme alone in one place, but equally su- 
preme ev'ry where ; 
Ever possessing a most perfect knowledge of the 

enemy's strength ; 
E'er operating with due dilligence, yet, no force is 

e'er spent. 
Satan in his realm is equally supreme, which is to 

imitate ; 
Having no wealth or beauty to reward, or source 

from whence to create ; 
Also supreme in every art and power to deceive, — 
His only goal, death to life, — his only pleasure to 

agrieve : 
The imitated in all things so closely resembles 

the real. 
That we cannot trust sight, but must rely on what 

the soul's made to feel. 
If it were possible God's mind to deceive, the elect 

would be misled, — 
All hope would cease and all glory fade with the 

silent slumber of the dead. 

121 



Satan trusted this magic power of art, the truth 

from God's mind conceal; 
Triumphantly raise the banner of the false where 

God had staid the real ; 
Set in disorder that mighty battle line, — ^virtue 

and truth no more know 
Their source, but be left to eternally wander 

through the pale realms of woe. 
Satan viewing God's forces, — seeing but one in all 

his mighty camp, 
Martial' d before Him innumerable legions of im- 

itat'd stamp : 
So he every where lay seige, — maneuvred his 

trusted line ; 
Hoping God to affright, that weakness in Him he 

might somewhere find. — 
But the imperial General stood unmov'd before 

that awful crew ; 
When all his martial force exerted, he in weakness 

the seige withdrew ; 
And passed to regions not eternal, — sustaining, 

yet, immortal pride ; 
So with God is established peace eternal and Satan 

cast outside. 
So long as man battles with Satan alone upon 

a moral plain. 
The war's never o'er, no matter how many vic- 
tories he may gain ; 
He fights for no lasting purpose, while in the end 

can hope but to be slain, — 
A moral victory serves only the purpose for which 

it be gained. 
But, when the war's chang'd from a moral to a 

religious affair ; 
And God man makes his general, then Satan flees, 

we know not where : 
For then he sees the Leader the eternal palm of 

victory bears ; 



122 



And knows to desert the field he flees a train of 

unavailing cares. 
Morality, we then may say's an influence of reli- 
gious laws, 
By man sought to serve him in a selfish, or a tem- 

porial cause ; 
So religious laws only serve a man to the extent 

of his trust ; 
If moral, it ceases to serve him when the body 

returns to dust. 
If religion be the medium by which we seek God's 

eternal worth. 
It will serve a higher moral purpose, — add riches 

of immortal birth : 
God's ability to do can't be equal'd, or exceeded 

by man's faith. 
And as his heart, soul and mind are fixed in that, 

so will his life be great : 
God's laws will not deceive, but as they are trusted 

so will they prosper men ; 
If for a temporial purpose, that life will know a 

sorrowful end. 
Satan's first siege ser^^ed to prove the perfection 

of God's eternal laws ; 
That, perpetual and impregnable to sin, are ce- 
lestial walls. 
That siege may've held for ages, its duration God 

alone can tell ; 
Unless his last resource had failed him, Satan 

would not yet have fell. — 
And with him everything that falter'd, or toward 

God not holy pure ; 
So establishing God's perpetual greatness, — his 

purpose made secure. 
By that God was not more exalted, in himself 

more secure felt ; 
For before him all wrongs must perish, — all feeble 

hearts surely melt : 



123 



But, with the seraphs, who faithfully trusted, 

but knew not the war's sure end. 
His name in glory's exalted beyond the power of 

their praise to send : 
The courts of heav'n with unspeakable grandeur 

and eternal glory blaz'd, 
While all its shining host and dazzling beauty, in 

vain strove to speak his praise. 
All mortal strength may of His beauty speak, yet, 

it is most feebly said ; 
Immortal riches may asscribe their glory, the 

ejffort must be led ; 
The grandeur of eternity may fully speak, the first 

is, yet, but told ; 
Eternity may untold times etem'ly search, yet, 

there's a purer soul. 
The bitterest pangs of hell we can but feebly pic- 
ture, yet, they are sure ; 
For his abhorrence of evil is equally strong, as his 

soul is pure. 
When eternity was lost all had pass'd, but to that 

Satan kept blind ; 
Pitching his tent in the immortal realm and pro- 

claim'd himself divine. 
Here, like mortality to immortality, eternity's 

veil'd. 
Save to one, through which all the secrets of the 

others are true revealed. 
What Christ is to mortality, so is Michael to the 

host he lead, 
Nor against the eternal kingdom of God, can ne'er 

be led to secede. 
Satan hoping to prosper by his defeat, proclaims 

himself the son 
Of the everlasting morning, and here he his course 

had set to run : 
Seating about him many vices, imitating virtues 

'bout God's throne ; 



124 



Leaving vacant seats of the elders, Christ and 
Michael by side his own : 

Inviting all to seated be and him due homage pay, 

But Michael defied, proclaiming the true Hght of 
day. 

Satan again declares war; that this realm he 
would by right of conquest force — 

Michael, in the name of living God, orders him on 
his downward course, — 

But he boldly defies Michael and his authority 
given, 

And tries the fortune of war within the sacred 
precinct of heaven. 

Satan Martial' d his innumerable forces to support 
deepest wrong, — 

Michael's army was fortified by God's eternal 
truths, deep and strong : 

The General who knows no defeat directed that 
invincible line ; 

Demanding of Satan the principle for which he 
fought, he none could find. 

Satan relied on his prodigious resource of false- 
hoods — on none could lean — 

Michael trusted to One Eternal, who in himself 
alone supreme. 

Satan arrayed in vanity's gayest trappings and 
her richest pomp. 

Adorn' d with all that pride could wish — most in- 
viting pleasurer lust could want ; 

Presenting fairest of all things, which most entice 
the soul to sin ; 

Exercising deceptions strongest powers, — doubt- 
ing souls to win : 

To all his numberless host, these were their hearts ; 
their minds', their souls' deep source ; 

And as these delusions vanished, they were left 
without a hope or course : 

Michael stood unmov'd, confident in God's ever- 
lasting ways ; 

125 



Led by truth unadorn'd, which' s fairest in her own 

essential blaze — 
In Michael's cause truth and wisdom stood on 

either hand ; 
Truth to support and execute what wisdom should 

command. 
With their hearts, minds, and souls firmly fixed in 

God's majestic law ; 
For all they stood nothing unworthy, but purest 

riches saw. — 
As each charge repulsed they felt new pleasure in 

their souls arise ; 
Saw purer richer beauties each swifter mantling 

to the skies. 
A battle now was sure, the cause no recon- 
ciliation would allow, 
For each against the others reign by eternity seal- 
ed a lasting vow : 
Satan debated long from point of his own dark 

selfish aim. 
That, since God is securely set in his own eternal 

reign. 
He woud not below his dignity step to claim an 

interest here — 
Vilest sophistry ! In all good God's interested and 

does appear. 
Much on the result depended, and that full well 

each leader knew. 
Whither heav'n's glories should sacred be, or wast- 
ed by foulest crew. 
This, Satan viewed, a spoil immense, to him what 

dazzling glory to see 
Himself in reign o'er such wealth and beauty, and 

their purity wasted be. 
Purity Satan could in no wise brook, but ever 

sought its spoil, 
And wherever its reign prevail' d, Satan pitched 

camp in other soil. 



126 



Heaven's proposition, seems, was, first to estab- 
lish all things as they are. 
Then make existence a progressive bliss under test 

of celestial fire. 
Satan confident in skill, supported by such great 

contrabands of war, 
Flatter' d himself that with least missile could set 

the enemy's gates ajar : 
So he led the battle with such horrid cries as 

pleased his savage will ; 
Least falsehood, direct at heart of Micheal, hurl'd 

with befitting skill, — 
But that heart was invulnerable, nor was he in 

tactic slow 
To use the weapon fitted exact to ward off the 

fatal blow ; 
The next, with its wonted force, he hurls quicker 

than a human thought, 
But before the truth it sought to waste it, both 

force and purpose lost ; 
The next quicker sends with such skill that no 

power to execute did lack. 
Had it been possible for vice to slay virtue the work 

would' ve been exact ; 
Swifter leads the conflict, as his weapons permit, 

or occasions demand. 
So contend the powers, — Satan strives to cast 

down, — Michael to withstand : 
Satan continues that single combat to urge to a 

supreme degree, 
Til many angels failed themselves to guard, but 

tum'd that awful sight to see, — 
When all the negligent had attention tum'd to 

witness their leader's art. 
The host of Satan, their weapons at them, hurl'd 

and pierced deep each inmost heart : 
Thus many of the Angelic host felt the power of 

sin's deadly dart ; 



127 



Satan had sorely learn' d that negligence with 

cowardice bore equal part. 
Here Satan had hoped to his favor to turn the for- 
tune of the day ; 
The intrepid valor of Michael daunt and to his 

charge give way ; 
But, when to follow up his success, found an in- 
vincible line, 
Though no greater skill in war'll be displayed 

through eternity of time : 
So battle raged, — not a soldier lack'd skill to equal 

part his leader played, 
Nor did leader or soldier despair 'till they saw their 

greatest effort fade. 
Then Michael, truth into Satan's camp, did with 

modest fury hurl. 
Which forc'd him and his crew with their dead to 

shelter in the nether world. 
The victorious band then paid most solemn 

thanks to mighty God of host ; 
In style befitting beauty of their lives, lament 

their many consorts lost. 
Michael reviews the battle, considers Satan's un- 
merited skill ; 
If his weapons had equal' d the occasion, might 

have gain'd the holy hill ; 
Saw how, that if it were possible, the mighty works 

of God could dissolve ; 
How that an end to heaven's eternal day might 

in endless night revolve. 
But, since without God there's nothing worth, 

but all of him is of purest light ; 
All else to him subject, then heav'n can no more 

feel the restless shades of night. 
Satan had not considered some points of war on 

which success depend. 
But, thought that any weapon with such dexter- 

'ty sway'd success would attend, — 



128 



Had he considered the heavenly cause, the lead- 
er's merit and skill ; 
The power of truth to make alive, and o'er sin to 

pour deadly chill. 
He would've meekly laid his weapons down and 

sought a lowlier place to fill. 
Here learn that the success of war does not depend 

on the general's rage ; 
But on the cause he supports, — on the resources 

and weapons he engage. 
The holy flowers of heaven now in the full 

strength of their beauty sprang ; 
Of that pure source from whence they gender' d in 

sweetest melody deeply sang ; 
The angels join'd the mellifluous flow of that holy 

song, 
And pour'd forth the pure delight of soul in music 

sweet pure and strong. 
To enjoy such profound bliss of soul these faithful 

beings had never thought 
Would be their lot, until to maintain what God 

had given they daily fought 
With hearts filled with love for that purity for 

which they ever wholly sought, — 
Since in that name they fought and conquered, 

that purity more richly flows ; 
Now they're progressive beings and each soul ever 

more resplendent grows. 
There are two great beings, which are co-eternal, 

from whence all things arise. 
And as for wisdom to prosecute their designs, each 

seems equally wise. 
The Greater to whom all power, glory, honor and 

majesty is due ; 
In whose own essential being is perfection of all 

things that are true : 
The other of all most abominable, who to honor 

has least claim, 



129 



From whose essential being flows all things that 

are loathsome, foul and unclean. — 
One who in himself is highest of the high, to whom 

we all honor owe ; 
The other who is meanest of the mean, — in him- 
self lowest of the low. 
In the morning of Eternity each of these beings 

was omnipresent. 
Except neither in the other's self, so Satan could 

try his utmost strength ; 
But to be equal in power all must be possible to 

each's access, 
Which could not be, but to know Satan challenged 

the right of God's rule to test. 
Satan was wise to know that if he could enter 

God's inmost heart and quench 
The essential source from whence issues every 

good, that His reign was spent ; 
But unless he could pollute the source, all else 

would prove a most vain attempt. 
In such an attempt, what could Satan hope, but to 

ingloriously fail ? 
For what's in itself eternally pure cannot pollute, 

or e'er grow stale. 
While Satan vainly strove, God's eternal glory, to 

restrain, 
God proved that all was to him accessable by a 

secret reign 
Of his holy laws, which are deeper fixed in each 

soul, and heart, and mind. 
Than the being itself can e'er have power its 

source or wealth to find ; 
So we find likeness of the true man in this temple 

most truly inlaid ; 
For whose indwelling the temple of man was thus 

adorn' d and neatly made. 
In that likeness deeply lies true grandeur, claim- 
ing our ever respect. 



130 



Which if we alone solely honor, in our lives will 

glow the true effect ; 
So our beauty doth not appear in this visible tene- 
ment of clay, 
But, that invisible splendor surviving glory of 

eternal day. 
Beneath Satan's essential being where he felt his 

supremacy seal'd, 
God secretly entered and beneath each falsehood 

firmly set the real ; 
So the false can no where enter, but what the true 

is also there reveal' d, — 
Thus the truth underlieth all, but never hid to a 

faithful search. 
But a modest stillness holds, for what cometh of 

itself s nothing worth. 
Truth sought in her native beauty is the fairest 

treasure, — never spent, — 
In her source wedding each virtue, kiss'd by, their 

loves as she journies hence : 
Charity will proclaim the nuptials and direct the 

wedding feast ; 
Prescribe hymeneal pleasures that in her hand 

will never cease. 
In the soul' 11 wed truth and virtue, there their 

nuptials ever celebrate, — 
In the heart Charity will store the treasures of that 

connubial state. 
Falsehood's like the mighty storm that plays up- 
on the bosom of the great deep, 
Which chills the heart of the sailor with the 

thought that beneath him there's no peace : 
But far below the troubled roar of storm, like 

truth peace reigns most profound, 
There unadmired her jewels of soul, — such wealth 

no earthly prince e'er crown' d : 
Yet, there may gently glide some welcome current 

full pregnant with torrid wealth, 



131 



To pour its conceptions on some frigid shore, 

there great fecund joy make felt ; 
Or Hke the treasures of some arctic sea carried by 

a friendly stream 
Through delightful regions where the sun pours 

forth a more genial beam ; 
While the torrid deep this friendly intrusion with 

awful silence greet, 
As it gently soothes her fever' d bowels troubled 

most sore with liquid heat ; 
So he who would enjoy the placid calm of perpet- 
ual youth, 
Must seek his rest on that tranquil shore, in the 

silent realm of truth ; 
Or through reason, by religion and by faith ap- 
proved, serenely rise 
In ecstasy of soul, to bathe in that crystal fount 

beyond the skies ; 
Be enwrapped in higher pleasure than attend 

the calm of sweet repose. 
While in that course we journey, love of nature in 

our heart deeper flows. 
God has created all things in their purest light, 

angels and man left free 
To elect whether with God to live and an endless 

course of pleasures see ; 
Or Satan idly worship and leave that state of 

pur'ty to wasted be : 
This angels know and if Satan could speak the 

truth he would with them agree, 
That he seeks to separate from holy lives men and 

angels, them to damn ; 
While if he possessed the true riches, he would 

their due homage sure demand ; 
This we ought to know, if we're not greater, then, 

why are we by Satan sought ? 
Or if man or angels sell virtue for vice, then, can 

they but hope for naught? 



132 



While God we must ever seek as the only wealth 

and beauty of soul ; 
For eternal Hfe must with patience delve, as the 

miner does for gold ; 
God we must seek for his unerring goodness, — his 

unspeakable beauty, — 
For the purity of his soul, — to serve his will be 

our love and duty. 
To fix his greatness, God needs no aid, but it is the 

creature that receives ; 
Should men and angels profane his glory, yet, he 

reigns with majestic ease. 
God created all with befitting majesty, their honor 

so to prove. 
Wherein they fall below that standard, they fail 

to honor the God of love ; 
God fully delights in his creatures as he form'd 

them, and alone can please, 
Thus man must stand before he can gain enter the 

fragrant bower of ease. 
Satan on failing to blot out the eternal light, as 

he had sworn. 
Enter' d the immortal heaven with confident elate 

and unf orlom ; 
By due subtility he hop'd to have its inhabitants 

to delight 
In celestial gore, and hold all things else in arms 

of chaotic night. 
Satan having fail'd to successfully dispute God's 

right to create. 
Either by fortune of war, or boasted resource of 

power to debate ; 
That since angels are free in choice, he trusted to 

involve them in his fate, 
And heaven's pure rich blooming fields, of worthy 

creatures, to depopulate ; 
But, knew not that God, no creature of his hand 

would ne'er forsake or disown. 



133 



If it faithfully trusted him, for all its wants and 

frailties, to atone. 
But, all who seek in God a refuge, and make him 

their stay and tower 
Will stand approved and with success move a- 

gainst each opposing power. 
Bach creature stood as form'd, until by Satan led 

their honor to disown, 
Then was heaven justly purg'd and freed of all 

idlers and each useless drone. 
Heaven has since and will with pure riches per- 
petually flow ; 
The faithful will continue to rise for whom that 

wealth was made to glow. — 
God did not set himself to know which of his crea- 
tures would fall or which stand, 
But set himself alike to all who honor' d the work- 
manship of his hand : 
All who make him the object of their choice, he 

has elected to save ; 
Make them heirs of his eternal wealth with the 

true hearted and the brave. 
We know not the duration of that infernal and 

supernal strife. 
But, know that Satan sorely tried each heart and 

disputed ev'ry right ; 
Contested every inch of celestial soil, to its harvest 

laid claim ; 
On every cost sought shelter to conceal the infamy 

of his name : 
Nor would he, his false assertion to those fair fields 

yet have sealed. 
Had not his utmost resource his vanished glory so 

revealed. 
The immortal realm being now refulgent with light 

of eternal day ; 
Freed from all unholiness, or what could offend, 

or mar the purest ray ; 



134 



The faithful made eternal, always receiving a 
purer balm of life ; 

The soul ever being flooded with splendor of a 
richer force of light : 

The immortal incorporated in God's everlasting 
might, 

And its bounds so secur'd against ev'ry nocturnal 
source of night. 

So the Eternal Kingdom being set, enriched and 
beautified, 

As befits the majestic grandeur of Him who o'er 
all preside ; 

The purity and beauty of the immortal heaven 
sustained. 

With worthy inhabitants set to enjoy God's per- 
petual reign : 
Satan, chaos and all things failing to honor the 
Creator's hand 

Claim'd empire and right of rule in all beyond and 
o'er the mortal stand ; 

But, God calling all things terrestrial from out 
that dismal waste. 

As pleased him, gave each form, vitality, intelli- 
gence and place. 

The womb of mother earth, God fiU'd with purest 
fruit of impregnated seed 

Unpolluted by germ of thorn or thistle, — no par- 
ent of useless weed ; 

Then earth's lust being satiate by intercource with 
bodies celestial, 

Pour'd forth the bounty of her soul, filling her 
bounds with joys terrestrial : 

Thus all creatures were form'd from dust impreg- 
nate alone with the pure and good ; 

Man a blooming monument of living virtues, above 
all others, stood ; 

All lives were pure and flourished like flowers cul- 
tur'd in the richest soil, — 



135 



Man walked with God over fields yielding fairest 

fruits, yet, — unmarked by toil. 
God did not delight in man because he was of him- 
self wholly pure ; 
Nor because of personal charms, or power of his to 

long endure ; 
But because He knew the frailty of man's being,— 

his credulous heart ; 
How he would grieve, if he should from that in- 
nocent state of truth depart ; 
That deep down in his life and soul, where the true 

being and image stand, 
He would most bitterly cry for perfection of the 

creating hand. 
While man knew but God, and no evil passions 

played upon the cords of life. 
He could love God, the Eternal Father, with all 

his soul, heart, mind and might ; 
While all blown in purity, and but virtuous fruits 

grew fair and ripe, 
Man knew but to adore and trust the Author of 

perpetual light. 
Knowledge of good and evil, God forbid man to 

taste, — ^well he knew the strife ; 
That such an excellent power of knowledge He 

alone could use aright. 
Thus Satan led man to believe that to be like God 

only meant to know ; 
Then the supreme dignity of himself would be of 

a nature flow ; 
But when he'd tasted, to his lasting sorrow and 

most grave surprise, 



136 



He learned that to be like God meant more by far 

than being thus wise. — 
With God knowledge is servant to his pure Being, 

most perfect intellect, — 
No harbinger of ill, to whom all excellence pays 

the most grand respect. 
Man possesses no such excellency, but to knowl- 
edge and passion swerves. 
But, grows noble or ignoble in the master's char- 
acter whom he serves. 
Poor man ! Since he tasted the forbidden fruit, he 

became a field of strife ; 
Satan seeks the conquest of the soul by wasting 

the holy spark of life. 
The body of man is the temple of the living God 

Eternal, 
Fortified with intellect, truth and vrtue under 

light supernal ; 
Supplied with vessels most suitably fitted for the 

Master's use; 
Set in that apartment most holy, — filled well 

with nectarine juice. 
Where the soul may, in fairest habit clad, sup with 

the One Divine, — 
Partake with him ambrosial food, and freely drink 

celestial wine : 
There man may have communion with the God of 

perennial year ; 
Where Satan or things infernal will never dare to 

interfere. 
The soul's given charge that temple to so keep that 

the Holy Ghost may dwell 
A pleasing inmate, the soul's High Priest, to pre- 
sent a heart that pleases well ; 
And place within the sacred precincts of that 

heart a new white stone. 
That completes the sanctuary into a pure and 

saintly dome : 



137 



A place more holy than where the angels are said 

with man to commune, — 
Which yet remains sacred to the Father while at 

rest within the tomb. 
When man, fruit of double nature, tasted he gave 

ev'ry vice a right 
To enter and inhabit there under the dubious 

shades of night : 
The earth so cursed that all her sons, after bom, 

must know like uncertain state ; 
Must conquer Satan and drive, and ever guard 

him without the temple gate ; 
And invite the Holy Spirit to establish the Church 

of God within ; 
And like the temple of His Son, forever, keep it 

pure and free from sin ; 
And with vessels of that temple be the soul's de- 
light to ever serve 
The Almighty God, nor from a duty he commands, 

ne'er turn or swerve. 
'Bout the citadel, in ambush, Satan lays, support- 
ed by his sable crew ; 
Those points which' re weakest and with least 

vigilence kept he holds in steady view. 
When the vig'lent grow credulous, he insinuates 

vice in virtue's stead ; 
Invites the soul in seemingly saintly terms to des- 
ecrate holy bread ; 
To life's lamp that sheds such lucid light,^ from a 

sempiternal source is fed, — 
Satan would add sulphuric fire, — swaddle the soul 

with trappings of the dead. 
That temple God no longer visits, but is loathed 

as a den of thieves ; 
In thickest dark the keeper e'er gropes, — for the 

living light most sorely grieves : 
The treasure of that house is taken, — waters from 

the living fountain fail ; 



138 



The vessels meant for God's service pour libations 

to the idol Baal. 
To keep this house aright the alter must glow 

with fire of holy zeal ; 
The soul must be pregnant with a love purer than 

the patriots feel : 
Wisdom must be more sacred to the heart than the 

miser's gold to him be ; 
More often than the miser seeks his store, we must 

appear on bended knee 
Before the One most holy pure, whose laws are as 

equally just and wise. 
To serve him as befits his awful majesty, in truth 

without disguise : 
We must not doubt because of human frailties, 

or the fault'ring heart give heed, 
But believe that, in the hand of God, man is equal 

to every deed : 
Ever striving by His truths, before him, to order 

our lives aright ; 
Seek in him that only freedom from shades of 

ignominious night. 
Life is like some pensive scholar, who from some 

mountain peak serene and fair, 
That lifts itself in massive grandeur far above all 

others in mid air ; 
Views through lens that will guide sight the farth- 
est into the vast expanse of space. 
And finding no object whereon to rest, the sight 

fades in an unknown place ; 
Yet, if he could onward advance, that space would 

grow more pervious to view ; 
The increasing splendor would lead him to forget 

what he had hurried through : 
So when man will have, through Christ, ascended 

humanity's most lofty bound 
To enter God's infinite grandeur and enjoy that 

peace the most profound, 



139 



He there will taste God's purity so deep that eter- 
nity cannot sound ; 

Ever gathering richer fruits of knowledge flowing 
o'er celestial ground. 
Man's fall did not involve his end, nor does to 
eternal destruction lead, 

But left him clothed in doubt and dread so that 
he much divine instruction need ; 

For his wrongs, thorns and thistles became the 
most common brood of mother earth, 

Nor could the nature of man be unlike the ele- 
ments which give it birth. 

Since that useless growth has thus become the seed 
impregnate in earth's womb, 

Man must toil it to remove to secure fruitful plants 
a needed room ; 

That earth may pour forth her strength in beauty 
and richness of fruitful ease, — 

That pure fragrance of flowers and fruits float 
sweetly in the gentle breeze. 

Thus man's nature's alike impregnate with ig- 
norant and evil seed, 

Which must be rooted out, truth planted and 
cultured for its virtuous breed ; 

So while man toils to fill the earth with fragrant 
bowers and fruitful trees 

He must earnestly war with vice to give his soul a 
conscious ease. 

While earth delights in pleasure of intercourse 
with fecund powers benign 

She is cumber' d with a fruitless growth, man of 
his ancient choice, to remind. 

In this human soil where holy plants once grew 
and yielded fruit divine, 

Life's now encumber' d with doubt and dread, 
products of superstitious mind. 

So man must strive with folly's brood, led by good- 
ness of the One Supreme ; 



140 



Must purge his life of Satan's spawn, — garner 

instead fruits of golden sheen. 
To live this man enters a war that closes but with 

this temporal life ; 
By aid of truth, must seek the One Eternal Good, 

nor turn to left or right ; 
To the One Eternal Goal, must faithfully run the 

gauntlets through. 
Nor seek to divert the sight, wishing an easier 

mark to view. 
Thousands have falter' d in that race and cowardly 

join'd the motley crew ; 
Grasp weapons, the damnation of their souls, to 

hurl at the faithful few. 
To enter the narrow gate and keep the way that's 

straight, man must pur'ty love ; 
Must honor that wisdom, which it crowns with 

spirit like the aboding dove. 
The path is surely paved by truth and might, 

mark'd by the holy light of day. 
While virtue's sweetest flowers and ripening fruits 

gladen the shining way. 
That way is not unmark'd by toil, nor free from 

Satan's missile showers ; 
As vice is always wont to lurk about virtue's most 

sacred bowers. 
On either side that narrow gate, the towers of vice 

and folly stand, 
And from there such weapons hurl, as slay many a 

would be valiant man ; 
There none can enter whose soul is not impreg- 
nated with celestial fire ; 
But such enter in face of Satan's host and^force the 

meanest to retire. 
That way bears mark of many battles fought, — of 

celestial armor laid by, — 
Of many who forsook truth's banner, — of many 

for her fear'd not to die : 



141 



Many perpetual monuments arise to name the 
sages who've trod, 

With humble steps, extoling the majestic grand- 
eur of Almighty God. 

No soldier e'er march'd that way without ent'ring 
many conflicts fierce and long ; 

Learned well the lesson, that victory's ever to the 
faithful, not the strong. 

Man should well observe the trophies erected by 
victors along that march ; 

Gather true the nature of the conflict, let each 
cause engage a full search : 

That path is mark'd by many a broken column, 
noting an unfinish'd work ; 

About the fallen fragment many useful and beau- 
tiful mystries lurk : 

The remains of each column shows what life would 
be, should man worthy live ; 

Showing the finishing touch, which the Eternal 
Master to all can give. 

These fragments show where once holy men, per- 
chance, have sought a devious course ; 

Left the stream flowing from the pure fount, drank 
deep from sedimentary source : 

Instead of striving to finish that beautiful column 
untimely broke. 

The shatter' d bark of life, tempest toss'd, on bil- 
lows of unknown ocean float ; 

Where all's an infinite expanse of waste, — no har- 
mony or concord dwell ; 

But the vital being must ever feed the unrelenting 
pangs of hell : 

All concord and harmony have their place far be- 
yond that dismal strand. 

Where the grandeur of that finished column 
marks the blissful state of man ; 

Where that monument. The Beautiful, rises in 
magnificence most pure ; 



142 



Where man, above all his faults and frailties will 

arise eternally sure. 
Man, if he will while dwelling on earth, may taste 

fruits of immortal glory ; 
May treasure up the sweets of life and journey here 

til his locks grow hory ; 
Then sink to rest with all at peace, as the sun of 

life should set ; 
The sleep of the righteous sleep, until called to 

His perfect rest ; 
In that fairest realm where no storm or tempest 

rage, nor fiery passions burn ; 
Where life will in God's holy refinement grow, nor 

ever again will yearn 
For unholy things ; in that life that serener grows, 

man will rise e'ermore. 
Wings of love and pinions bright, sweeter elysian 

fields, will bear him o'er; 
Eternally speed him on toward life's goal, the per- 
fection of all bliss. 
In that day that knows no bound, to richer strains 

of music may ever list. 
In that realm gather all that is most beautiful, 

pure, rich and good ; 
And there the only pure essence of man's life has 

ever so stood : 
As he grows into that purest life, joins what, it 

seems, he once has known ; 
That man, unto the purity of his pristine state, 

again has grown. 
To view the most lamentable scenes of human 

fragments, be relumed 
A desecrated human temple, there fairest relics 

lay inhum'd ; 
Vessels once sacred in the ministration of the 

soul's humble right ; 
While in the place most holy supping with Ever- 
lasting God of light ; 



143 



In that pure recess, where man once heard of su- 
pernal beauty far and wide ; 

All now in profination, — growing more dismal 
beneath Satanic pride ; 

In depths of gloom the soul sets a weeping hermit, 
amid ruins so fair ; 

While hope' 11 ne'er again ascend the throne of 
mercy on the wings of prayer. — 

Then should not man guard the temple of the 
Lord with unremitting care, 

Since he supplies with purest love, and preserves 
the soul from such despair? 
In humanity there appears another realm more 
sweet and more refine 

Than that of man, which unembraced slowly bleeds 
at heart, quicker ends in time ; 

That realm supplies humanity with the rich in- 
fluence of floral love ; 

Reclaims man to his higher nature, makes him 
tender like the gentle dove. 

Man unbound by that influence in life is as a strong 
unfinish'd dome; 

Like some stately mansion grac'd by all save floral 
wealth, yet, no pleasant home : 

Gainst such gentle influence and tender beauty, 
no human heart is proof, — 

In man's affections more deeply set than that be- 
neath the parental roof. 

To be embellish' d by that grace the heart of man 
doth long to feel the touch ; 

O'er the joy of making such completion, the heart 
of woman ponders much. 

The wealth of womanhood, if purely kept, — lily- 
like matures free from stain, — 

Is a richer treasure, more to be desired, than all 
earthly store can name. 

What's more to be admir'd, than a living monu- 
ment of blooming virtue, 



144 



Truly the goal of womanhood, all that's Junonian 

there lone to view ? 
That virtue that, to idolarous passion, ne'er tum'd 

or gave a smile, — 
Ever pristine in its beauty, and so pure that lust 

cannot defile ? 
As the apple puts forth in bloom predicating the 

virtue of the fruit. 
So the flowers of virtue do as fittingly, the human 

offspring, suit : 
That when Satan comes he must dispute what in 

humanity is most fair, 
But, with the human race to-day it seems such 

fruit is most extremely rare. 
Then, how frail must man be ! who is the fruit of 

vain pride and unlawful lust ; 
Gender' d in the ancient fault of man, which is in- 
nate to his mortal dust. 
Woman, a pure monument of virtue, — man, a 

finish' d column, should stand 
Before the Father, when in holy wedlock to 

unite both heart and hand : 
But, when in the age of man, has man witnessed 

such human grandeur ; 
Or in principle, has join'd his consort with heart 

thus pure ? 
Christ, the perfection of humanity, who has per- 
petually stood 
Most meekly and holy dedicated to God, the One 

and only God, 
Is the true Church, through whom man to the 

living God should holy wedded be ; 
So the woman through the man, thus making a 

perfect unit of the three. 
But, there came a time, after Eve had tasted fruit 

of the forbidden tree. 
That man had to elect which way to turn, in which 

all men can clearly see 



145 



That Eve drew near his weaker side, from whence 

she was taken, — claiming the heart ; 
Unloosing the golden cord of life, for which all men 

yet, doth sorely smart : 
Now, from the Father being unbound, without 

care, they float on billows wide ; 
But, keep their eye on the star of life as they glide 

o'er the uncertain tide. 
The sun and the moon have no power to move the 

sea from its fixed bed, 
But cause its ebb and flow, so Christ' 11 move the 

souls of all the silent dead ; 
The billows on life's sea doth rise and fall, sure as 

waves of ocean roll ; 
So soul of man in Christ may rise to humanity's 

loftiest pole, — 
The axis of life ends not there, but's the entering 

of a purer soul. 
In which there's no bounds to the refining riches 

and beauty of life's goal. 
Adam, before creation of woman, was humanity 

most complete ; 
Embracing life real and ornate, principles most 

strong, gentle and sweet : 
Adam viewing himself alone, ask God a helpmate 

for him to secure, 
So God seeing fit to separate from man all save 

life's real structure ; 
From the ornaments and beauties of man, form'd 

woman with befitting taste ; 
Made man more delighted with himself, while, 

yet, he did but himself embrace. 
Thus stood man in Eden divided into the beauti- 
ful and the strong ; 
Man representing the column of strength, woman 

the monument of song. 
Satan entered and of self conceited beauty sang to 

Eve a hymn 



146 



Of luxury and voluptuous pleasure, leaving Eden's 

glories dim ; 
Forthwith Eve grew enchanted, — most fervently 

pray'd that she could chant such rhyme, 
If possible with such endearing skill and beauty, 

to the Muses Nine ; 
She thus beguird,— Satan with subtility led in 

the forbidden line, 
Telling her in the fruit forbidden, in that alone, 

could such power find : 
In that enchanted moment she, the gall of Hfe with 

joy, did partake, — 
Hurried to deceive Adam before reaHzing her sad 

mistake — 
Satan delighted much in prospects of his deceit, — 

the house divided stood ; 
Eve couldn't resume her native purity, but Adam 

could forsake the good : 
Eve, Adam had sworn to love and cherish, until 

in death they should part ; 
Well he knew she he had not wedded in her pre- 
sent soul, mind nor heart ; 
Well he knew, by God's injunction, they were 

then separated by her death. 
But should he now descend to that state to be with 

her to her latest breath. — 
'Gain man views himself alone, "But how" unlike 

the first lonehness, " he said, — 
"All consolation departed, — much better that all 

to same end be led. " 
But, he reason' d not that it would be better to 

enter life unadom'd, 
Than enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season be- 
neath the Father's scorn. 
Thus Adam f alter' d; his Eve he sought; the bri- 
ny gulf gan to ford, 
And soon, in the forbidden state, Eve entertained 

her fallen lord. 



147 



As they knelt to pray at Nature's alter, the angels 

from their presence fled ; 
They found their place no longer with the living, 

but compos' d the sinful dead : 
They turning from the pure shining paths of vir- 
tue, where they had wont to stray, 
Into the silent recess of shades, hoping to hide 

themselves away 
From His august majesty, — from whose awful 

presence fled the light of day ; 
But when His voice moved the solemn stillness, 

they in secret no longer lay ; 
Adam answering, * ' Here am I, " in trembling tones 

pour'd forth his sad laments. 
As he saw pass from him the real bliss of life, for 

which man yet repents. 
When ask, man gave true the reason for his sin, 

which did Eve incriminate ; 
While she confession gave revealing Satan's con- 
spiracy with the snake. 
God, through each attribute of his divine nature, 

tried man's ev'ry impulse ; 
Regarding each influence relating, that might 

justify the result : 
On finding no excuse, they were dismissed from 

the celestial garden ; 
Admonished to seek man's original state and an- 
gels would attend 
Them through their pilgrimage of woe, and be 

redeem' d and saved in the end : 
That the Word, that gave man's being, with the 

seed of woman, yet should blend ; 
Vindicate the works of God, and most sorely 

bruise the serpent's head. 
And while the serpent to revenge itself would 

bruise his heal instead : 
They were usher' d from life's Oriental splendor 

into the distant wxst, 



148 



Where Satan's rage refluent rolls from off the 

shores of everlasting rest : 
If man journeys farther to the west, he enters 

gloom of that awful deep, 
And Jonah-like, less by providential aid, must 

groan neath its lasting sweep: 
While in the brine some great fish, a kind agent 

of the Lord, may take him up ; 
When truly penitent, may save from the portion 

of that bitterest cup. 
While many've tum'd and patiently strove to re- 
gain that oriental peace. 
But, knew not that same sun, which to west had 

passed, would appear 'gain in the east. 
Man, then, while plac'd on the westmost strand of 

life, stood in the dawn of peace. 
Just as the sun, when he has reach'd his west- 
most bound, shines 'gain in the east : 
We mortals can then, but take up the duties of 

life and with patience run, 
With the heart and soul fixed on Him who guides 

the course of the radiant sun : — 
Sure as he returns to his place in the east, we in 

Christ will be renew 'd ; 
And the pure virtuous pursuits of life will be by 

man again pursu'd; 
Instead of the fruit of the forbidden tree, the tree 

of life will taste ; 
Gather pure intellectual wealth from infinite ex- 
panse of space. 
And live with Him whose glory is light and beauty 

of the uncycled year, 
Ever there enjoy more full richer flowing peace, 

and life without a tear. 
Before tasting the perpetuating fruit, in Christ, 

man should sure atone 
For all his sins, so in no wise mar the grandeur of 

his eternal home. 



149 



When life's sun in its first beauty shall shine a- 
gain, and pure refulgent beams 

Fill the soul, man will find real what the skeptic 
thinks to be christian's dreams, — 

Then, with great sympathy pity the skeptic's 
state, when he has ponder' d o'er 

The mighty barrier that separates him from that 
blissful shining shore — 

In that realm, where he never shall find truth to 
dissolve the mind from doubt. 

The soul will lead through deepest gloom to where 
hell's increasing torrents spout 

Venom of the vilest serpent's rage, — a rich treas- 
ure of unbelief. 

For which there's no balm, but proves a gath'ring 
source of unremitting grief : 

While ages roll, and while hell extoll the infernal 
essence of her womb, 

Ever a viler source of venom will crown the nup- 
tials of her bridegroom ; 

While vengeance great as God is pure will order 
the hymeneal rite ; 

In pleasure's stead the most augment'd woes that 
could infest the deepest night 

Will prepare, attend, bless and grace the ill-sought 
ease of that marriage bed ; 

For soft down of peace, thorns that inflict deepest 
pain will have place instead. 

In the soul, meant a hall of praise, the most ex- 
quisite torments will ne'er cease, 

While such horrors deeper grow, — that soul's far- 
ther driven from the shore of peace. 

For the light that would have shown and purest, 
softest effulgence shed, 

The fire of the soul is smouldering, but hath no 
beauty to spread. 

At Eden's gate, from whence man did his exit take 
from life's orient, 



150 



Is placed cherubims and a flaming sword turning 

ev'ry way, thus meant 
To preserve and keep sacred the fruit and the way 

of the tree of Hfe, 
That no one should return by the way he came to 

that pure shining light. 
The true relation to the great Planet of Life, must 

observe to steer right 
His pale planet, to preserve it in course from un- 
certain shades of night, 
Until it be securely set in the assurance of Christ's 

life and death ; 
In him to rise and join that blissful rest, by the 

Eternal Father blest. 
All other ways are wrong, their pleasure, wealth 

and influence most vain. 
And Lucifer-like will sink beneath the wave ne'er 

to rise again. 
Christ's beginning consisted only of original 

plan of life. 
Drawn by the great Architect of the Universe in 

its purest light. 
With due regard to the material from which the 

workman was to build ; 
So to guide aright the builder, the Spirit of the 

Architect had fill'd: 
He laid the foundation of the temple in Eternal 

Word of Truth; 
Drew, from only source of Good, material fitted 

for the builders use ; 
Each part and section numbered according to the 

architectural plan : 
Slow rises the structure, showing the pure and 

delicate touch of the hand — 
As infancy passes into childhood, and the child 

matures into man 
We see complete the first drafted temple, in all its 

parts most pure and grand. 



151 



Thirty years that temple was in building, when all 

its parts were made complete ; 
The purest essence of created beauty, yet, of all 

men the most meek. 
Satan daily view'd that grandeur, admired its 

beauty, but purity loath' d, 
In his inmost being rav'd to see such magnificence 

in meekness cloth' d. 
''But (said he) I'll spoil it in its dedication, — 

Adam once stood thus well. 
Here in this dust note his fragments, who was 

equally grand before he fell. " 
He saw Christ come to John's baptism, and was 

hurried in Jordan's crystal stream ; 
Saw the Spirit descend, and heard the testimony 

of The One Supreme. 
"But ah! (said Satan), I saw Adam visited by 

angels far and wide ; 
I saw him, in his first state, walk and commune 

with God in no humble pride : 
With but one temptation to offer, I drew Adam 

from his lordly realm ; 
Then, with all earth's fair realms, which are mine 

to give, can I not this man o'erwhelm? 
Then, into the wilderness, was Christ led of the 

Devel to be tempted ; 
For righteousness humanity was a more dense 

wilderness, — more wide spread ; 
More dang'rous pits and snairs conceal' d, — by 

more ravenous beasts infested. 
To him of all men considered least, — ^less known, 

this great work entrusted : 
On every side, from alters wide, saw incense of 

ignorance rise. 
But, saw no homage paid, in the deep calm truth, 

to the One Good,— Most Wise. 
King Folly sat on earth's throne, o'er all nations 

the rod of empire swayed; 



152 



His great Treasurer, Pride, the luxuries of earth 

at his feet had laid — 
How vast the work ; Truth to insinuate, ignorance 

waste, and knowledge spread ; 
Dethrone Folly, his treasurer banish, and humility 

seat instead. 
He saw the ardueous task of raising man from his 

fallen state ; 
Of restoring, in purity, the favor of his ancient 

place : 
He saw how easy it would be, with his great know- 
ledge of each thing 
And understanding of men, all nations to his sub- 
jection bring. 
For forty days and nights, Satan caused the 

grandeur and glory of earth. 
Before the Lord, to pass, — asking pleasure of serv- 
ing his regal worth ; 
But, deeper Christ saw virtue, the true wealth and 

luxury of nations lie ; 
Deep in his soul, the true grandeur and glory of 

man gave the deepest sigh ; 
"Why are these not honored?" Chiist ask, to 

which Satan found no fit reply. 
"These (Christ said), in magnificence, jar exceed 

all pomp you rate so high ; 
They claim more worthy attention, — on this true 

so v'mty can alone rely; 
For these to national sovernty raise, let me be 

doom'd to bleed and die." 
Satan observing the moment when hunger was 

most urgent for food, 
Ask why the stones be not made bread, which 

temptation Christ boldly withstood ; 
Showing that man liveth not by bread alone, but 

God's holy will. 
And that it becometh man, all of God's righteous 

laws to fulfill. 



153 



Then, forth, to the summit of the highest pinnacle 

of the temple led. 
Saying thyself cast down and see if His angels 

bear thee up as 'tis said? 
Jesus said, again it is written, " The Lord thy 

God thou shalt not tempt," 
The Son of man's duty is to do and teach His will 

by whom he's sent. 
' ' The Devil again him taketh up into a mountain 

exceeding high," 
The summit of worldly greatness, — beneath them 

earth in fairest prospects lie : 
Royal palaces rais'd their sparkling domes, luxu- 

r'ous pomp her beauty spread; 
The magnificent splendor of the future, — glory of 

the ancient dead: 
All that present held ; in the future lay ; or in the 

past at rest, 
To dazzle, roU'd a united wave, that mighty soul, 

to suppress ; 
That the Devil's greatest force, with dexterity ex- 
ceeding thought of man, 
Storm' d man's only hope, but more quick was 

Christ to behold the most dext'rous hand; 
Then, to Satan's offer, Christ turned his back, — 

him commanding to go hence; 
In deepest disgrace he fled, seeing all his toils bore 

no recompense. 
Satan thus laments, " I who once disputed the 

Eternal Sovereign's right 
To rule, who heavenly battles fought, — trophies 

carried from celestial light. 
Here, in a more decisive battle, defeated by one 

of mortal frame ; 
From that battle bears no trophy, but a far more 

exceeding weight of shame: 
Shall this man regain for man all that in the fall 

of Adam, was lost; 



154 



And, all his progeny back to Eden, lead a victo- 
rious host?" 
Of battles fought and victories won, this appears 

not less glorious, 
Which retrieve from hell the soul of man, — he 

in splendor raise from the dust. 
Angels then minister unto the Son, for his great 

merit commend, 
** In thy labors we will bear thee up, — in thy death 

we will thee attend ; 
We with care will guide thy rights, until to heaven, 

thou shalt safe ascend. 
Where, in unending bliss, thy labors shall find a 

more glorious end : 
A greater king than Solomon, thou shalt reign, in 

purer holier land, 
There, for them thy toils share, a place prepare, 

in that City not built by hand." 
So Satan saw the temple, (he had said should 

not be), dedicated 
Holy to God's service, wherein a pure heart's zeal 

glow'd unabated. 
Satan reviewing the history of man from Adam 

to Christ with pride 
Is fill'd: " How few escaped my seducing powers, 

or o'er my pits did glide? 
Enoch, with whose ways God was pleased, — who 

to my charms gave no enchanted ear, 
God him hath taken, with Him to ever live beyond 

most radiant sphere : 
When I hoped this race, unredeem'd, would sink 

beneath the flood's relentless wave, 
Noah, who believ'd, with his offspring ferried o'er, 

here lies within the grave : 
Righteous Abra'm, who I thought to see the pros- 
pects of redemption waste. 
With the promised seed, is also sleeping here 

within death's strong embrace: 



155 



Jacob, Israel's bold soldier, whose sons I caus'd 

to so sorely grieve, 
Is also by the same enclosed, though cloth' d by 

Egypt's embalming ease: 
Joseph, whom God was delighted to increase so 

great in worldly fame, 
Also, in like embalmment rest, a strong hero in 

life's battle slain: 
Moses, who Israel from bondage led, through 

whom God made known his laws to men. 
His dust I claim' d, but found the chief of angels 

there, his body to defend ; 
His body is not here; his spirit does not this 

mouldering heap attend; 
But, that body was so pure that it need not to the 

dust return again: 
Joshua, at whose command nature did her plan- 

itary laws suspend, 
Like most great men of earth, at death's call, his 

prostrate body, did here extend : 
The servant, Job, who I ask his Lord to curse 

when suffering such sore pain ; 
Whose property I wasted, on him shower' d all my 

torments, but in vain, 
Yet, his body in dust reposes here, as God's records 

doth so explain: 
Samuel, who in priestly service, was so proven 

from a child. 
From duty found release, when gather' d to this 

monumental pile : 
David, God in his sacred word hath said, was a 

man after his own heart ; 
From the other royal heads of earth, found his 

remains should not rest apart: 
Solomon, whom God gave wisdom to known each 

creature's nature and its speech, 
Who by proverbs of most excellent riches taught, 

and same in truth did preach; 



156 



Who, the properties of each plant, knew, that 

grew within the most silent nook ; 
Who, all the secrets of men, read as true as if they 

were an open book; 
Heard his fame, while luxuries of wisdom and 

riches waited on his breath; 
Found no discharge, but to his fathers gather' d 

in this silent hall of death : 
Elijah, who lov'd truth and God alone, to no 

other fame did aspire. 
The belov'd of God, did to heaven ascend on 

charriot wheels of fire: 
But, Elisha to whom a double portion of Elijah's 

spirit came ; 
The agent of many a wondrous deed, as recorded 

with his name, 
The touch of whose sacred bones a dead body 

renewed to life again; 
Here in ashes listless lies that man of whom life 

boast such distant fame : 
Hezekiah, Juda's King, whom God from death 

fifteen years respite, gave. 
Here with the peasant in mould doth rest with the 

heroic and the brave: 
Good old Daniel, who through God's favor great 

and wonderful mysteries knew ; 
Who from the service of the true and Hving God 

no day or night withdrew ; 
Who with the other Hebrew Children, for their 

faith, walked the fiery furnace. 
Was, in the swaddling robes of death, conducted 

to this mournful resting place: 
Mysterious Melchizedek to whom Levi paid 

tithes as money lent 
To God, his priestly dust nor bones are nowhere 

in the bosom of earth pent : 
All other of Adam's race, save those mention' d, 

servant, prophet, priest or king, 



157 



To the bosom of their native mother, as a mould- 
ering fabric cHng : 
Yet, I fear that all my most prized victims, who 

me defied and so withstood, 
Will by the Christ he releas'd, since all I meant 

their ill, some way was their good. 
At Christ's rebuke all my legions, spirits and 

angels will break rank and flee 
Their ancient habitations, in and among men, the 

wealth of Eden's tree; 
Before whose word falsehood will vanish as night 

before the parent of day; 
Before whose life pride will waste, and luxuries 

of the earth fade in last decay ; 
Whose city is Salem, he prince of Peace, where 

truth with righteousness abide ; 
Who will the riches and glory of Babylon waste, 

the Mistress of pride. 
In calling his apostles twelve, if he fails the Holy 

Spirit to give, 
I will seek his removal from this life and urge my 

claim while man shall live." 
Satan heard Christ charge the twelve, God's king- 
dom to Israel you go proclaim ; 
Heal the sick, the devil castout; all I command 

do and teach in my name. 
" Ah! (said Satan) his success is now less secure, 

a credulous one 
There may be among that twelve; of that band 

Perdition may have a son ; 
I will try each impulse of their natures, and the 

influence weigh with care ; 
The true and false resemble so that to detect the 

utmost skill require; 
He who's truth and in no falsehood dwells, can 

alone in all the perfect find ; 
Then, he who is but man, not by the true Spirit led 

how easy to blind ! 



15S 



Of men, three classes are : One conceives a thing 

to do, then considers it, 
If wrong repents and acts not; One who some- 
times rashly acts and sins a bit; 
And one having time to think, repents not until 

he does the wrong commit. 
Having considered, Judas finds, who ne'er re- 
pents for committed sin; 
He also money loves, which makes my point many 

times more easy to win; 
He who repents but for committed sin, of all men 

there's least hope for him." 
As the twelve went forth to teach, an unclean 

spirit their commands did defy. 
So the apostles inquir'd of Jesus, wishing to know 

the reason why; 
From what he taught, 'tis clear intemperate 

spirits leave but in fast and prayer ; 
The spirit of gluttony knew none but Christ such 

palms of victory bear. 
As Christ went forth teaching and performing his 

great and miraculous deeds. 
To consider all as works of a worldly king, forth 

Judas Satan leads: 
While in the temple the elders sought to take him, 

and he from their sight past 
So misteriously, that in spite of men and devils 

his stay would last 
With men, while the sun and his train of planets 

should keep their unerring course ; 
His kingdom excell all human thought of greatness, 

that man's powers be lost 
In eternal admiration, while the Son entertain' d 

the Father's host: 
Then earth would pass into a perpetual realm to 

be rul'd by gold, — 
Man's passions be most sumptuously served, — 

could more excellent bliss unfold ? 



159 



So Judas thought, ** What's humanity worth to 

me, except the price 't will bring? 
Then, for thirty pieces of silver I will barter my 

Lord, Priest and King. 
They cannot take him, — to reign he's bound; 

then can higher dignity be found ? 
For the price I receive, I can greatly enhance the 

beauties of my crown: 
Then, shall I not, for such superior splendor, 

nearest the king be found ? 
For the price of a man, with the chief Jews, he 

reckoned, well this the Lord knew; 
But, finding his ticket not for Christ's kingdom, 

he did much the bargain rue : 
Failing the bargain to rescind, forth into the 

temple the money threw; 
To enter the halls of death before his Lord, from 

society withdrew. 
Satan could find no power to restrain Christ till 

his labors were complete. 
This he plainly taught, at the last supper, while 

he washed the disciples' feet, — 
Said, when he drank the vine's fruit again 't 

would be in his Father's kingdom new — 
In the eternal Kingdom of his God, where the 

celestial vintage grew. 
Then Jesus came with the disciples unto a place 

call'd Gethsemane ; 
Then went forth to pray, taking with him Peter 

and two sons of Zebedee: 
Then, exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, Jesus 

began to be. 
As he went forth to pray, said unto the three, 

tarry here and watch with me. 
Christ seem'd to know not, whither trial — like it 

pleased God Abra'm's faith to task. 
His should be, — prayed the Father, if possible, 

that the bitter cup might pass ; 



160 



But, unlike Isaac, when the Father found none 

could substitute his son, 
Christ said, nevertheless. Father, not my will, 

but that thy will be done. 
In agony Christ poured out his soul, sweat like 

drops of blood stood on his brow, 
Of that great suffering, the garden, where he 

pray'd, bears a silent record now. 
Jesus, of the gath'ring multitude, inquiring, 

"For whom do ye seek?' 
They answering, " Jesus," then spake Jesus I am 

he of whom ye speak: 
At his answer they backward went, falling to the 

ground, — truth to falsehood dealt 
A mortal wound, — too great was that power of 

truth their guilty hearts had felt. 
They from that shock being recover' d, in bHnd 

wrath onward did proceed. 
Until they saw the just, upon the Roman cross, 

for the guilty bleed. 
Jesus looking into their hearts saw that blindness 

from whence their fury grew. 
Thus for them pray'd, " Father forgive them 

for they know not what they do." 
As the soul of nature felt that deep compassion 

all cords were unbound; 
Then and there, for man's redemption, in the 

Father's grace a place was found. 
In that awful hour all grew dark, the great lumin- 
aries refus'd to shine; 
That the Eternal Father, who deepest feels, 

might not witness man's foulest crime — 
While suff'ring deepest pain, cried, "My God, my 

God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 
Then once again crying with a loud voice and all 

was paid upon the tree : 
Committing his Spirit to the Father, his soul de- 
scends to hell's domain; 



161 



His body seal'd within the grave, yet, to spirits 

bound preach' d redemption plain; 
And, no doubt, found disciples there, who were 

made free within that dismal flame ; 
Sending apostles to preach the kingdom to all 

who pass'd before he came. 
Christ taught and prov'd that in hell Satan was 

not more to be fear'd than elsewhere. 
That if a soul believed and prayed in hell, God 

would surely hear that prayer; 
That true faith would not go unreward'd, though 

in hell, no matter how far; 
That God could free from corruption, though the 

soul be in hell's deepest mire. 
God's kingdom rules in heaven above, preach'd 

in hell beneath and earth between. 
But, nowhere can be serv'd, less through Christ 

the heart and soul be made pure and clean : 
In hell Christ preach'd the truth, that cures the 

broken heart and sets the captive free ; 
Which comforts the believing soul concerning that 

peace that ever be, — 
Hell rang with an unnat'ral sound as the re- 

deem'd sang praises rich and pure; 
As the soul received that augmenting peace, 

which to the broken heart gave cure. 
Christ taught that in three days the Father from 

death and hell, him would redeem; 
That all powers of death and hell would be broken 

and life reign supreme; 
That they should see angels descend and upward 

bear his soul away, ;-v. j 4; < 

With the Spirit reunite to live in their tenement 

of clay: 
Sure as this shall be, you may look forward to 

my coming again ; 
Then will I call and all the dead come forth from 

death, hell and the main; 



162 



To the righteous my call' 11 be to enter the joys 

of life supernal; 
The same to the ungodly will be, depart into 

death eternal. 
At this Satan became alarm' d, " The prophetic 

records in haste go search," 
Thus commanding, Lucifer once familiar with 

such mysteries leads the work; 
And his findings soon reports, ' ' John, who for his 

testimonies of this soul. 
Was beheaded, his mission and hist'ry in those 

records were surely told; 
Christ's saying, " The Son of man go'th as 'tis 

written of him," is truly so. 
And his entire life seems as if it did from pro- 
phetic history grow. 
David hath said, speaking to the Father, ' Thou 

wilt not leave my soul in hell. 
Neither, thine Holy One to see corruption, wilt 

thou sufiFer,' so we dwell 
Not longer on his word, but speedily turn and 

find holy teachings say 
As Jonah in the whale stayed, so the son of man 

in heart of earth shall lay. 
David could not have spoken of himself, his dust 

and bones in earth we find, 
Which show that they've known corruption and 

were not proof against the action of time. 
We find God's word, when truly spoken, has ever 

proven most sublime ; 
Then, why not confess Him and hope to receive 

a better heart and mind? 
I once enjoy'd celestial favors before listening to 

your romance ; 
The light and freshness of the morning were 

borrow' d from my countenance; 
I saw this man there, who was, by the Father, 

above angels preferr'd; 



163 



I there heard spoken of him, what he here has 

repeated in his word: 
Of men he's the mightiest, and will prove a con- 
queror where e'er he goes; 
Then can we hope by opposing him, but too 

many times increase our woes?" 
Satan thus return' d, " I know thou wert a celes- 
tial favorite, and fair, 
Yet, thy superior elegance and merit, I also 

noted there: 
You couldVe had no superior, at the greatest you 

could' ve but known a peer; 
The victory's not to the strong alone, but the 

faithful, then should we fear? 
When we will've subdu'd our enemies, then in 

equal power will we reign ; 
But, O, thy immaculate beauty will the homage 

of my heart constrain ! 
Then join thy celestial graces, 'twill place thee 

beyond my power to view ; 
Then it shall be my first delight to serve thee, to 

whom soveriegnty is due; 
Now, I am about to issue my orders, what shall 

I expect of you ?' 
" Give command, I will do with might what 

soe'er is in my power to do." 
Satan call' d his mighty army, — said, " Leave 

unattended all other cares ; 
Around this soul gather, about him with all skill 

bind your mightiest bars ; 
Then I will cement it with my rage, — place on it 

my adamantine seal; 
Then if that be not secure, what I have meant for 

him, let my own heart feel." 
All being made thus secure, he placed in command 

his most trusted guard, — 
" With a desire to safely keep this trust, know 

that your inmost hearts're fir'd." 



164 



As the many keepers stood strong in confidence 

of Satanic power, 
Time with ancient steadiness rolFd on in inno- 
cence of the destin'd hour; 
When the faithful angels, with God's redemption, 

descend with awful sweep 
Into that dismal pit, where sin vainly tried into 

that pure soul to creep; 
With the sword of truth, to Satan and his crew, 

dealt deep the deadly wound ; 
With the same broke the seal, cut the bands with 

which the Son of Man was bound : 
Within the boundless depths of hell no enemy of 

life was left unslain ; 
An awful thing to hear the rage of dying fiends 

throughout that sinking plain ; 
Throughout the universe resounded the falling 

wrecks of hell. 
Of which the gospel records, of a mighty earth- 
quake doth tell — 
As the angels broke death's seal and roll'd back 

the stone, the Roman soliders fell; 
And in bliss liv'd the Son of man, while Eternal 

life in his heart doth dwell. 
All things, if truly trusted to the Father, can be 

safely counted gold, 
As through Christ's sufferings, now, pour im- 
measurable riches to the soul. 
At Christ's resurrection many saints arose, — into 

the City went, 
But, of them, we have not since heard, nor do we 

know, how their time is spent. 
After Christ's resurrection, yet, he did fifty days 

on earth remain; 
But, with the faithful alone, of that the ungodly 

no knowledge claim. 
What he taught spiritually while mortal, to sight 

was now manifest, 



165 



So the Christian's hope of immortal life does on 

such testimonies rest; 
Yet, the splendor of his ascending glory their 

mortal visions blest; 
While the one remaining promise, the Holy Spirit 

did soon attest. 
Thus the soul is comfort 'd by spiritual testimony 

of that life; 
Of the Eternal Father begotten and safely hid 

away in Christ : 
So the believing soul's regenerated in Christ's 

virgin purity; 
By God begotten ; of the Holy Spirit born ; from 

sin etern'ly free. 
This is most plain since before John's birth he 

testimony of Christ receiv'd, 
Which was not the result of John's faith, but 

because his parents had belie v'd 
That she, who'd long pa?s'd nature's bounds, 

should according to nature so conceive ; 
Thus John we see the product of faith, who the 

prophet's spirit did receive, 
From God, yet, John saw him through whom he 

and all inspir'd prophets do believe — 
That same spirit, by which the Holy Prophets of 

the future taught. 
Is now the comforter testifying of man's redemp- 
tion wrought, — 
Presenting true what has been and now is, which 

we through an eye of faith see 
That true light, which the prophetic eye viewed 

by faith, and most truly taught' d be. 
Christ came by the Holy Spirit overshadowing 

a virgin Jewess, 
Which righteous intercourse resulted in gendering 

of conception purest: 
On the virgin's part was that deep faithful longing 

of a righteous soul 



166 



F or intercourse with the Eternal Father, life's pure 

and richest goal ; 
So the seed was incorruptible ; the virgin pure and 

free from stain, 
Which fact the life and works of Christ do by 

great and equal truths explain. 
First, there are promises like to Abra'm and 

Sarah which man must believe ; 
Then comes desire for intercourse with Him by 

whom the virgin did conceive; 
Then an intercourse arises through the virgin 

purity of Christ, 
Which brings a regenerating and renewing in that 

pristine life; 
Which gives a testimony of what's conceived and 

hid away in Christ. 
'* Ah! (said Satan), with the great Omnipotent, 

who can with success contend? 
I no longer have power in hell, but must turn to 

war with puny men ; 
I can no longer hope for empire, but for common 

sufferers must strive; 
No reward awaits me, but to eternal punishment 

be made alive : 
From continuing my strife with men, this mortal 

wound doth not restrain; 
But, many of Adam's race, with pleasure, see 

plow hell's sulphuric main." 
Hence Satan most cowardly grew ; now rules the 

great sophistic reign we see, 
But, Christ has, his disciples, told to resist the 

devil and he will flee. 
Christ knew, after his ascention, that great empire 

was next in birth, 
So he said, " When the Son of man cometh shall 

he find faith on the earth:" 
Thus Christ of that great kingdom, wam'd his 

disciples what they might expect; 



167 



If possible false Christs and prophets would de- 
ceive the very elect; 

But since it is not possible for the mind of God to 
be deceiv'd, 

They whom the Holy Spirit keep, can but by others 
sins be griev'd. 

Then the visible church became a real and active 
field of strife; 

In the same soil where the true seed was sown 
sprang the brood of Pluto's wife, 

Whose womb is most pregnant with false doc- 
trines sent forth to deceive 

The credulous, who love soft teachings, a volup- 
tous breed; 

A family of Anti-Christs and false prophets, 
which numberless are, 

Who grow more vile as they propound the mys- 
teries of their sable sire. 

Christ's the true invisible church, where the Holy 
Ghost militates with care ; 

Where the perfect truths of God are taught and in 
him a true resemblance bear ; 

Where man can worship all that's most high and 
pure, and serve with holy zeal 

The One Most True, where the soul can all His pure 
deep rich influence feel. 
The laws of God are ne'er changed, but to be- 
lieving souls more resplendent grow. 

While the fullness of such splendor man can ne'er 
reach, yet are God's riches so 

That, except through Christ man can none of 
their real beauty or grandeur know ; 

Yet, they are ever shining around him in their 
real and perfect glow. 

While through Christ man seeks to propser by 
to God's truths giving heed. 

He may, by God's grace, to the eternal fount of 
riches lead. 



168 



The soul that knows its need of such purity,— 

felt touch of contagious fire,— 
Can find no rest or know peace, except God's 

mercy satiates that desire. — 
Then through Christ, the true church, humanity's 

greatest splendor and grandeur, 
Man can alone drink at that eternal fount, which 

e'er flows so rich and pure. 
The infinite wealth of' God's truths to believing 

souls is most true reveal' d, 
And the great heart of mercy, for man to atone, 

before God lay unseal' d ; 
While the sophist great hypothesis state, — with 

evanescent glory spread. 
But, when for its heart you search, find it neither 

with the living nor the dead: 
It proves but a thing assum'd which when the 

true light is brought to bear 
All its attributes are faded, and the thing you 

sought is not there: 
All that imagin'd glory's vanished; the soul left 

in blank despair; 
And finds that goal so eas'ly sought is in the land 

of nowhere. 
Yet, the truths of God the same will stand, and 

must be preach' d through the ages down. 
Until, in that morbid womb, no false doctrines be 

for the false teachers found. 
All false prophets and teachings must have their 

day, — before the truth must stand 
To know which is of the everlasting rock, or which 

of drifting sand. 
lyCt the false accuse and boast, but man must 

trust the power that Satan fears ; 
Love him with pure heart whom Satan hates, — 

whose majesty's as the endless years. 
Faith comes by hearing, but woe to him who does 

not prove the thing he hears 



169 



To know the thing is true, but believes because 

the teachings so appears. 
A man may possess the truth untried,— and yet 

his Hfe may be cloth' d in daubt, — 
Man ne'er truly believes a thing till through laws 

infallible search' d it out; 
Then the product, thus resulting, is of himself 

surely made a part ; 
And truly lives while such facts are in possession 

of the mind and heart. 
The doctrine of God's Son leads to the fount of 

life immeasurably deep, 
Where the richest beauties, purest gradneur of 

that eternal calm doth sweep : 
The soul that believes on God through Christ 

grows most rich in celestial wealth. 
And the elegance of supernal luxuries in the soul 

is felt. 
The man who builds his hopes on Satan's teach- 

ings'll find his life a waste; 
Where he hoped to find his rest and wealth, will 

find dark expanse of space ; 
From where he hoped to reap his goal, nothing has 

been stolen or misplac'd ; 
In the beginning not a thing was there, 'twas but 

a vain hope he chas'd: 
While he clings to many fleeting visions, yet, no 

real form embrace; 
While for the sweets of life his soul doth yearn, 

yet, the bitterest gall must taste. 
First, faith in the christian's heart is planted, 

far less than a mustard seed ; 
If truly cultured, in grandest beauty spreads, 

and life grows great indeed, — 
Seeds of falsehood quick spring up, — ^her votaries 

far through fancy's regions lead, — 
Their visions so dilate, if possible, make the false 

the true much exceed 



170 



In splendor; in fairest colors picture, for each 

desire falsehood can breed, 
An exceeding weight of pleasure, from that to 

nothingness such fast recede. 
Faith in God through Christ is businesslike, 

where each day man can see new wealth pour ; 
Where he, who labors most and freest gives to 

God's kingdom, has greatest store. 
Satan places all in view and proclaims, " 'Tis 

man that does, — nothing's more sure;" 
But, he, who such believes, through the parch' d 

regions of hell, each day grows more poor. 
In heaven all the true riches of the universe, God 

has treasur'd up; 
While nothing in hell is stored, save that which be 

foul, loathsome and most corrupt. 
Heaven's an increasing state, which its riches and 

grandeur in life receive; 
While hell, of all regions, is the most desert, where 

its inmates can but grieve, — 
That for which the soul doth truly hunger and 

thurst, hells most destitute; 
But far away in celestial fields it spreads broad 

branches and deep root ; 
While all travelers in those bourns ever doth deep- 
er thirst and hunger feel ; 
Like thirsting souls on some desert hurrying, 

views relief, but how unre'l: 
As those seeming fountains vanish the soul deeper 

imbibes Satanic rage ; 
In those wilds there is much to instruct a thought- 
ful soul, yet, returns no sage. 
Two souls in this life, one heavenly bom, the 

other of mortal seed, 
In same land may dwell ; where the mortal would 

fail the other well succeed. 
There is no place so arid, but, that God can make 

a pure fountain flow; 



171 



Nor no soil so sterile, but, that God can make a 

fruitful tree to grow. 
Man's lack of faith is his poverty; all who look 

may see it so. 
The man is greatest who before God, meekly sets 

himself most low. 
As we the church corridors enter, hear ascend 

many a prayer; 
But true faith in God through Christ, or faith at 

all, is a thing most rare : 
Before the teacher, the word of God lay, a message 

most pure, deep and clear. 
Yet, there it is more often the sophist's voice than 

the true teacher's we hear. 
The Holy Scriptures have now become the weapon 

of the false and true ; 
Through those teachings come life or death, de- 
pending on how we do construe. 
Many deluded souls believe whatsoe'er they ask, 

if with Christ's name, 
Whether it be right or wrong, that the Father will 

do it just the same. 
Christ has said, whatsoe'er ye ask in his name, 

believing it should be done ; 
Yet, no ignorance or imperfection can be trac'd 

through that Holy One : 
If the perfection of the Father, alone, be found 

blooming in the Son, 
Then, can we ask anything, but what's just and 

pure, in that name? I say none: 
If man believes and testifies to such, then is he 

not false witness found? 
Can such be counted righteousness, or will it pass 

with this terrestr'l mound? 
No matter what a man's faith may be God will 

not do a wrong. 
Right will ever sure prevail, with God truth alone 

is most strong, — 



172 



Man's faith does not make right or wrong, but 

before God all fall where they belong; 
And unless a thing be consistent with God's laws, 

it cannot flourish long. 
God will not prosper the wrong, because man 

fails to see the truth, 
For all must grow old and perish, save God's 

perpetual youth. 
Christ could not be the Son of God, if he knew 

not the Father's Holy Will; 
Then can we believe a thing unjust would be 

asked on that most Holy Hill? 
Christ is man's mediator, and does for his inborn 

sins alone atone. 
And when to that pristine light restor'd he sins 

against God and God alone ; 
Until restor'd to that pristine light, we sin against 

the Son of Man ; 
Then for man's sins, when to that light restor'd, 

where can an atonement stand ? 
There sin becomes eternal and such there is no 

atoning for. 
Which alone God's grace can reach, or otherwise 

eternally are 
Corrosive forces, which endlessly waste the soul 

as an increasing fire; 
Gradually sink beneath the weight of increasing 

woe, — from peace more far. 
The Christian goes forth on his way rejoicing, 

gathering pleasures most sweet; 
No disappointments rest upon his brow, no 

troubles roll beneath his feet; 
His life is a giving up of dross ; a gathering heap of 

richest gold ; 
A spreading forth of diamonds bright; an aug- 
menting of a purer soul. 
So we see a Christian is a happy man, kept by 

eternal powers; 



173 



Given luxuriant wealth of purest peace, most 

fragrant wealth of bowers. 
Then why should not man live to worship God> 

and be heir to that richest store ; 
And the eternal truths gather up in the beauty of 

celestial lore ? 
God is the Author and giver of pure riches, beauty 

and all peace ; 
Heaven is a most abounding state, yet its beauty 

doth e'er increase — 
To the soul that grows in grace the grandeur of 

heaven can never cease. 
Nor the soul that's bom of God, the fullness of 

eternal life can reach — 
By faith in God through Christ, in the soul, a hope 

of glory is form'd, 
Which, nucleus-like, gathers substance pure to 

feed the soul new born ; 
While that hope within the soul's forming, a burr 

encloses keeping pure 
The sacred germ, until that fruit of celestial 

growth doth well mature: 
While the crisp white frost of age is falling, the 

burr opens to the sun ; 
The soul, as fruit full ripe, in nature's bosom rest, 

till time's course is run: 
In the Judgment mom, when the sun of everlast- 
ing life has touched its heart. 
That fruit will spring up anew, and as Son of God 

receive the better part. 
All men somewhere in life blossom forth, in pros- 
pects of fruitage rare. 
But somehow the inmost germ is wasted, yet, it 

grows outward fair ; 
While, in Christian beauty and grandeur of Hfe, 

it seems to flourish long. 
But when the burr to nature opens all hope of 

future life is gone; 



174 



The inward growth had long since perished, yet, 

had wav'd defiance to the storm, 
In such lives no fruit is found, yet, there remains 

a true symbol and a form; 
This is the moral, christian, who accepts the doc- 
trine the sophist teach, 
The fruitful essence in him had vanish' d, whom 

the world had sent to preach. 
There is another, which at first blossoms strong 

for a time seems well dispos'd, 
Claiming great promise of fruit, which soon crisps 

hard and its end is thus disclos'd; 
A cankering worm soon devours the tender fruit, 

and there makes its grave, 
But, these are they who believe the Father them 

has predestin'd to save. 
Dead prospects on the fairest boughs of fruit trees 

are very of times found, 
Of chestnuts most frequent, rarest fruit 'bout 

dead burrs sometimes gather round: 
These are like h^^pocrites, dead, yet, in visible 

churches retain their place; 
For the influence of their wealth the ministers 

give an extended space: 
This is not God's work, but belongs to Satan nor 

neither will it. stand; 
The greatest potentate of earth is not more with 

God than poorest man. 
God delights not in unrighteous gain ; the wealth 

of the universe he gives; 
A pamper' d lust is not the christian's goal, but 

through supernal riches lives; 
For the pleasures denied the sensual, to feed the 

immortal part, 
Is truly treasur'd up and made celestial food for 

the faithful heart. 
Such ministers, as think God's church is a place 

for worldly gain, cry aloud. 



175 



Support the church ! while in reaFty they belong 

to the other crowd : 
God's peace does not flourish in such hearts, nor 

are their minds free from stains ; 
Their barks of life are tossed by raging storms; 

their souls yet wear their chains. 
For a time all men sow wild oats, — so call'd, — 

not thinking of a time to reap, 
Until the harvest ripens, day and night then 

garner, — find no time for sleep ; 
But, the product they gather is not staple, — 

find no market for the seed, 
The more they garner, the more poor become,. 

until they grow most poor indeed. 
All men should refuse to garner such product, but 

few there be who do; 
They should burn the wild growth, and with ce- 
lestial seed sow their fields anew : 
Before that new seed be sow'd, the soil must be 

prepar'd with joy to receive; 
The soil be thoroughly purged, in Christ be 

made anew ; and from Satan set free ; 
The soil is then impreng'd with righteous germ, 

causing the seed to take deep root. 
To spread forth its lofty boughs, — enrich the 

soul with fragrance of purest fruit: 
While the soil is being purged, man many and 

deep furrows find 
Deeply entrenching the heart's deep seat, the 

depth of soul and mind : 
Long in that trench life will tend to drift, while 

to an upward course feel inclin'd : 
Yet, God's grace, if trusted, is sufficient all into 

purest gold refine. 
The aches and disappointments in life are what 

the furnace is to gold. 
That which tends to waste life's spring is but 

forcing into current mold : 



176 



Just as the pure gold and silver first from out the 

ore must pass, 
Then to the mind be brought, and into a current 

coin be cast : 
So life must be purg'd from dross, — before the 

mint a pure bullion lay, — 
Stamped with that mould, which makes current in 

the mart of eternal day. 
If a man's right with God, all meant his hurt, God 

to pure riches will transmute ; 
All false accusations, in time, a life of righteous 

acts will just refute. 
He who trusts all to God, — through purity of 

Christ seeks the righteous end. 
Each temptation will cause deeper influence of 

truth in his life to blend : 
They who seek his ruin will see him flourish 

through great and wondrous deeds, 
While they sink in deepest ruins, where unright- 
eousness ever surely leads. 
All men should so live that when their lives to this 

mortal end have roll'd; 
Like Job, can say, I know, when I am tried I will 

come forth pure gold ; 
While Satan cloth' d him with bitterest pangs, he 

prov'd a soldier truly bold ; 
While in the end he more affluent grew, — stood 

dress' d in a much richer stole. 
So will all men rise, when their lives have been as 

truly tried and prov'd. 
In terrestr'al and celestial wealth, the gift of the 

God he lov'd. 
The three friends of Job were not God's agents, 

who believed they were by Him sent, 
They appear to have been most noble men, to the 

service of Satan, lent. 
Job knew himself, nor would he to their elegant 

and much fair speech give heed. 
But said, I will trust Him, though he slay me, 

177 



Yet, proving great in act and deed. 

How few are men who live so they could trust their 

lives when such afflictions pour ; 
Yet, there'll come a time when we must trust 

our lives, or else we can live no more. 
Beyond doubt, that was as great a battle as mortal 

man e'er fought ; 
Helpless, — beneath those nightly strokes lay 

groaning, yet, what beauty wrought. 
Life, like metal, must pass through many forges 

before being freed from dross ; 
Or like gold, each time the furnace tries proves 

brighter, till all its baseness lost ; 
Or like metal, so long as in the earth as form'd 

will preserve that state, 
But, when from its ore ta'n, — in itself grows can- 
kerous, — soon sinks in waste : 
Unless for a useful purpose refin'd, and preserv'd 

unto its place — 
Thereby becoming an instrument for good, and 

does a lot embrace : 
So is life when separated to itself, and vital being 

given. 
It must in usefulness be refin'd, or else be to des- 
truction driven. 
In youth the Spirit and soul are a wedded pair, 

till mature years arrive ; 
Then, for a time, lust becomes the darling of the 

soul, — deep in follies dive ; 
Then to wisdom's voice no longer giving heed, — 

the mother of the wise ; 
During its dalliance with lust, the true departs, it 

can't have two wives. 
Before that soul, the spirit, can wed again, it must 

renew its first love ; 
From lust be divorc'd,— In Christ be regenerated 

and born from above. 
Without that renewing, the soul cannot receive 

again its heav'nly bride ; 

178 



Will remain eternally divorc'd; the soul waste in 

hell's relentless tide : 
Without the renewing they remain enemies, — can- 
not be reconcird, — 
The Spirit will not keep union with the soul, that 

by lust remains defil'd. 
In Christ all will be resurrected ; made 'live to that 

spiritual desire ; 
To the righteous be life eternal; to the wicked a 

consuming fire. 
The body of man is mortal, the temple where the 

soul resides ; 
Where in mature years may take a supernal or 

infernal bride : 
Unless, from that bride divorc'd, will his inher- 
itance eternally seal ; 
After death the mortal will not longer suffer, but 

the soul then will fell. 
The man who dies in sin hath no life immortal, 

but's eterna'ly dead ; 
In Christ they have no part, as he in immortal 

words of truth hath said 
I am the way, the truth and light, through which 

man passes from death into life. 
And unless you pass through that door you can in 

no way flee the shades of night. 
After Michael had fought with Satan,— unto 

the Father all subdu'd, — 
The immortal veil as a scroll roll'd back and all the 

faithful imbu'd 
With God's eternal glory and ineffable brightness, 

thus made to share 
The beauties and riches of him whose grandeur 

• and glory are man's to wear. 
Thus the first heaven past ; while the immortal 

realm stood an unpeopl'd state; 
But soon given for man to inhabit, who did his 

glory much abate : 



179 



Yet, man has a hope within the flesh, should he 

survive its fleeting pride, 
Which's a renewing in the creating word; where 

God's grace yet abide, — 
Thus between God and mortal man the current of 

an awful gulf doth glide 
Over the immortal realm,— from whence man 

fell — spread these raging billows wide : 
In Christ these billows rage no more, but become 

an ocean most calm ; 
Christ's suff' rings reconcil'd the Father, spoke 

peace to the dashing storm. 
Christ said, in my Father's house are mansions 

many, the vast expanse of space ; 
I go to prepare for you a place, — through the im- 
mortal realm lead this race. 
Man cannot pass from mortality unto God, but 

through the lost estate,— 
These portals Satan long kept closed, but through 

our Lord now stands an open gate. 
In Eden's pleasant bowers the Saints with Christ 

a thousand years will reign. 
In the New Jerusalen, the fairest City and of 

greatest fame. 
After the thousand years are fulfill' d, Satan shall 

be loosed from his chains ; 
An army as numberless as the sea-sands gather on 

Bden's plains 
To war against that peaceful city, whose king 

holds victory ready gain'd : 
Fire will rain from heaven and Satan and all his 

numerous host be slain ; 
That'll be the last great battle, all lost by Adam's 

fall will there be regain' d; 
Bden restor'd ; the Devil into hell cast, and only 

God's truths remain ; 
No falsehood or deception there; all like the vic- 
tory Michael won : 

180 



Heaven as a vestment from His face roll back, — 

whose glory exceeds the sun : 
From before His face the heaven and earth will 

flee, — for them no place be found ; 
Then, from the books, which he will open, read 

that doctrine eternally sound ; 
There no man's faith or works shall live, which 

does not within his truths abound ; 
There's no life, save that wherein the everlasting 

youth of God be found. 
In God through Christ the righteous will find a 

justification of their faith ; 
In the same the wicked's just condemnation, but 

to save it comes too late. 
Before time shall end, in the State of passion, a 

City shall stand, 
The Babylon of Pride ; the Seat of lust ; the mart 

of vice, in Folly's land ; 
Where the Argosies of intellect gather from earth's 

cities, most remote, 
The treasures of vanity, that swiftly over the film 

of falsehood float : 
There sets the goddess of passion, among men her 

alters spread far and wide ; 
Here men dedicate their fortunes, — burn their 

manhood to satiate her pride : 
All the beauty and wealth of nature, her fires of 

oblation would ignite ; 
And purest nectar, a libation, pour from the gold- 
en vessels of life. 
With her most luxur'us passions flourish; her 

commerce floats on many seas ; 
Her most devoted followers are those who most 

delight in lustful ease. 
The beautiful strains of music ; the endearing pow- 
ers of human speech, 
Man has dedicated to her service, — her fabulous 

glory to teach. 

181 



The sophistic priests, the visable church, have here 

led a captive ; 
The fair temple of truth demolished, but truth 

itself yet doth live. — 
When earth' 11 have paid her last and fairest tri- 
bute, by culminating hand 
Of human science; the genius of human intellect 

laid the span. 
Which completes the City's greatness — then the 

goddess and votaries forth go 
To revel in eternal ease, but see not how such 

portend endless woe : 
As, the holy vessels once dedicat'd to truth, they 

fill with life's gall, 
And from these fairest vessels drink, they will see 

writing upon the wall 
The fingers of truth, in an unknown hand, the 

destiny of them all : 
The language of truth, they do not know, nor can 

they the hand of fate read ; 
Then for a Daniel call, who revels not with the un- 
righteous seed, 
To read to them words of truth, the end to which 

that city long will lead. 
There will be no faithful found, save a contending 

band of captives few. 
Who had purpos'd in their hearts that they would 

not eat of the wasting cruise ; 
That they would of the waters of life drink ; feast 

on God's eternal truths; 
Such grow venerable in age, yet vigorous as the 

blushing youths. 
That City, truth will long hold in siege, but must 

wait until its day is o'er; 
It is destin'd to stand until her iniquity be most 

full with gore ; 
When all be gather'd there which oppose God's 

kingdom, it will be no more ; 



182 



'Twill be finish' d and number' d greatest of all its 
like, — none to restore. 

Then will truth, all the wealth of nature, to its 
usefulness reclaim ; 

The holy things, in the New Jerusalem, dedicate 
again ; 

Then shall that haughty queen lament for her 
offerings and vanish' d state. — 

The goddess with her passions burning, — no lust- 
ful savor to satiate : 

Then shall her votaries weep, having no offering 
to bestow ; 

To see her thus sorely weeping, — O, it agonizes 
so! 

Her merchants, upon many seas, will set howling 
for all their prospects lost ; 

All their vessels most heavily freighted , — by ris- 
ing waves of ocean toss'd. 

How sad ! left without a port to land, or market 
their freight to demand ; 

Every effort of a busy life, here, must perish with 
the man. 
That city stores the wealth of vanity, even from 
times first date ; 

The flood its citizens wasted, yet, the riches sur- 
vive their fate : 

Soon on this side a greater 'gain more dazzling 
beauties to spread. 

Where unnumber'd souls have perished, that the 
goddess' lust be fed. 

Many Sodoms have vanish' d, yet, that great Ba- 
bylon their wealth holds in store ; 

The volupt'ousness of many Gomorrahs been ra- 
vish' d by that great whore. 

The children of that great parental City once 
spread from shore to shore ; 

Yet, that mother's ever destroying her daughters 
to enrich her store. 



183 



That city's built of the fragments of man, on Bd- 

en's ancient ruins ; 
Caus'dby the dalhance of the soul, — led by Satan's 

subtile wooings 
To adorn self, — convert the powers of nature to 

draw others to him : 
Prove that man is not dependent on the Father, 

but he who will may swim 
The current made turbulent by man's sin, and 

make it subject to his will, 
And in time he might command the peace, and 

all the universe hold still : 
The longer and the more earnestly man labored, 

the less he did perform : 
Each effort brought disorder ; more troubled grew 

the sea; louder rag'd the storm. — 
So he strove earth's luxuries to gather up; convert 

them into powers. 
To build on that ancient seat, the greatest of Ba- 
bylonian towers. 
Thus the most beautiful and elegant are made like 

instruments of crime ; 
Their purity and usefulness are unsought, the 

grandeur by which they shine. 
The things themselves are without fault; 'tis the 

application that makes the sin ; 
But when God comes to judge, he will truly trace 

the cause to the point within. 
The things, themselves through their purity, will 

be reclaim' d to usefulness. 
While the man, wherein the fault's found will be 

subject unto deep distress : 
The loveliness and purity of life bring unto man 

no distress, 
But adds unto him more glowing powers of beau- 
ty, with much success. 
Then, should not we seek, in righteousness, to be 

cloth'd, — wearing the robe of peace ; 

184 



Be enwrapped by those pure beams of glory, that 

to righteous souls will ne'er cease ? 
When the mortal state will liave been finish' d 

and judged, the righteous few 
Rewarded ; and the ungodly into chaos cast, then 

anew 
Heaven and a new earth will be created and re- 
peopled as at first, 
Yet, the creatures, that will next inhabit it, will 

be of less regal worth 
Than man. The former creations we know not, 

nor the increate that are ; 
But, that the earth endureth forever, and next is 

to be purged by fire. 
God's command to this creation, was to multiply, 

the earth replenish, 
Was a command to man alone, but not to the 

beast, the fowl, or the fish, — 
Then, does not this teach that in the beginning of 

eternity was this 
Creation of the heaven and the earth? So earth 

survives and endless bliss. 
Then, shall we think that seraphs and angels were 

tried on these terrestr'al plains ; 
That the close of each creation constitutes a hea- 
ven, as best explains 
The Holy Record. Paul was caught up into the 

third heaven, so we find ; 
Then, the states this earth survives cannot be 

comprehended by human mind, — 
Thus, through the eternal years, God's kingdom 

will be an increasing state ; 
Earth may pass to, untold times, be inhabited by 

the increate : 
Yet, Satan will try each creation, but to prove 

God's works more complete ; 
Through each creation, Satan's glory will vanish, 

God's truths grow more deed. 

185 



Through the eternal aiinal, God's regulating 

hand I view methink ; 
Til all increate be tried and proven, the rebellious 

crew shall sink : 
The meek and lowly shall first be axalted, and the 

proud abased ; 
The self important and arrogant'll each in that 

scale be duly plac'd. — 
Then, will the rebellious turn and most meekly 

seek the Father's grace ; 
Most suppliantly will ev'ry knee bend, asking a 

servant's place; 
Then shall the rebellious souls, each be reduced 

within that dismal shade ; 
In proportion to their crimes, til Satan be servant 

of servants made ; 
Then shall all things prosper well, and the glory of 

eternal glory blaze ; 
The celestial more splendid grow ; hell to itself be 

more intricate maze. 

End of Book II 



A CHII.D OF NATURE 

I, who was born in the trackless solitude 
Of the forest, by the river's winding course; 
Where, my childhood in innocent sport, spent 
Among fairest flowers, that in beauty spread 
A couch most magnificent ; where I might rest 
My weary limbs from the long fatigue of day ; 
There to engage the duties of life without 
Thought of to-morrow's needs, which provisions 

for 
Herself make, or otherwise go unsupplied : 
Who had no deed of wasting life's spring to lay 

186 



Great stores for moth and rust, in decay to waste , 

But, only gather a supply sufficient 

Wants of each day to supply with ample store. 

A child satisfied with the gifts of Nature ; 

With shelter of her luxur'ant foliage pleas' d ; 

Within her somber isles delighted to stray, 

Where nature's anthems rose savage souls to 

soothe. 
No book I read, save on nature's page inscrib'd 
Truths congenial to my own heart's delight. 
A God worship' d and serv'd whom I knew not, 
But, him homage pay was my soul's great delight. 
There my childhood was spent ; her teachings there 

learn 'd 
To love, — with forms invisable to commune ; 
Nature's pulsation, there, I inherited. 
Which, in music's measur'd strains, drew out my 

life 
In harmony with a chord before unknown. — 
Deep in my soul (but not by that name then 

known) 
Rose reverence for a Being, to describe, 
I cannot ; or His importance to me speak, — 
In whose tender care I most delight to live 
In innocency of His wrath unconstrain'd. 
My boyhood brought to riper years, — where 

deeper 
Through my musings read greater truths, and 

more plain 
The Creator's perfect work and the plastic 
Beauties of His hand ; in reverential awe. 
Which bowed my heart and soul with respect 

most pure, 
And drew out life in deepest admiration. 
Who can view such order and beauty and not 
Be constrain' d to worship, or in musing lose 
Himself while pondering o'er life to such adverse? 
I view'd the great parent of day, but not mov'd 
By contemplative science to estimate 

187 



His wealth to man, or find his years of cycHng ; 
At dawn, with love, looked on his rising splendor ; 
Until high noon, view'd his ascending glory, 
In surpassing majesty, a moment stood 
In his ancient grandeur dressed ; the central force, 
In no mean contempt, but chief of solor good. 
Then to the west past on, — evenescent grew. 
Til his shim' ring light the waters laid in gold : 
The mountain crags and peaks with beauty gilded : 
To tint and adorn the heghts of other lands 
I knew not of, or in fancy e'er pictur'd. 

The moon, then, in her incandescent splendor. 
To quiet of repose called the world I view'd : 
The waters filled with silver beams and o'er earth 
Poured her ancient powers of beauty unchanged. 
My mind puzzl'd not, her the sun's negative, 
To prove, or look upon her the source of cold. 
As the sun is of heart ; but, yet, looked on her 
With youth's familiar eye ; nor with volcanic 
Eruption thought her interior troubled ; 
Or earth like e'er pour'd her intestine troubles 
Upon her bosom ; or from inward heat e'er thought 
Her radiance flowed, this earth with sweetness 

bless. 
I saw her continue to rise and set ; with 
Her wealth pleas' d without seeking to know its 

source. 
The stars view'd from same point of innocency ; 
Not seeking to know, which to the sun akin. 
Or which with the moon classed a negative groop — 
I scrutinized not perfection of God's works ; 
To each affirmative saw not how exact 
A negative set, all things in tact to hold. 
All things I viewed as felt, and as I felt saw 
From an inward testimony that I and 
They were creatures of the same hand ; that they 

were 
For my good made, but my worth to them knew 

not. 

188 



The years of purity I now well had reach'd, — 
To my side called one of like maturity 
From the opposite sect, my peace, to augment 
And in volume rise to a smooth current, free 
From the breakers that lay at the seat of life ; 
To flow on in silent grandeur to life's sea, 
Like some noble river in majesty moves 
On to the deep, when all founts their tributes paid : 
We, like two streams, to form one river, destin'd: 
Having their sources far distance, though within 
The same system bound, unconcsiously moved on 
To the same point, one mighty course, to form ; 
So forming a more noble stream that rolls in 
Deeper majesty to the Eternal Main. 
Oftimes the stream from one of these sources cease, 
While the other, in melancholly, keeps its 
Silent way. Sometimes unites another 
The void to supply, though never to remove 
That melancholly from the deserted course. 
Oftimes two streams unite their floods, which are 
In course to opposite points bound, such forming 
Whirlpools great ; deviations in course, and sand 
Galls burst, and much beauty from its face de- 
tract ; 
But, when they reach the Eternal Deep, all calm. 
Lives like rivers sometime loose themselves in the 
Desert sand, and never reach that lasting rest. 
These great truths, I have observed and in my 

course. 
Though short, I have somewhat realiz'd ;and hence 
Howe'er, will find life alike to others true. 

In the depths of the ancient forest ; in its 
Primeval solitudes, untouch' d or trod 
By cilivized man, in veneration bowed to 
Worship the Creator and preserver of 
That sylvan beauty. He I knew as the Good 
And the Devil as the Evil Spirit, but 
The Good Spirit's omnipitence I knew not. 
But praised him and feasted before him in love 

189 



And obedience — a continuance of his 
Favor, invoking ; at seed time asking that 
Fecund powers benign might smile on the 
Seed scatter' d, and a bounteous harvest yield. 
The Evil Spirit I at the same time prayed 
To leave unblighted,nor seek to prevent the 
Favors the Good Spirit for me sought to give : 
At harvest when I garner' d the season's wealth 
To the propitious gave thanks, and alike to 
The Evil for permitting me to receive 
Heaven's favors untouched by blight of mildew : 
But, knew not that I was robbing the Good of 
His praises justly due to give my Arch Foe.— 
But from observation just find his bounty 
To the faithful pour, and from the unjust hold 
His ample gifts; That famine, pestilence and 
Mildew's blighting force were but marks visable 
Of His displeasure recalling proffer' d gifts. 

In union with my consort no priest called 
Our nuptials to declare, but ta'en her to me 
As a gift from the Good Spirit to complete 
My better nature ; and in my devotion 
To her Great Spirit to me grew more 
Propitious, because I in my devotion 
To Him was bound to love, cherish and honor 
Her whom He gave to be with me through this life. 
Nature, as it testimony bore to my 
Inward life or better nature, was my law ; 
My Guide Supreme ; my revelations divine : 
My pleasure in keeping this grew strong and great ; 
In keeping this relation, I alone knew joy. 
With the beast of the forest, empire, disputed ; 
From forest fruits each sustenance gather' d, 
And ravenous grew, — each on other preying : 
We each our kind loved, as nature had ordain'd ; 
But, as to arts governing, each little knew : 
In waging war neither wished or hoped other 
To exterminate, but, that hunger's rage might 
Consume the victims in battle slain, — neither 

190 



Conquest sought, but, continuous war engage. 

A knowledge of the elementary world 
My attention ne'er engaged, them only knew 
In their rage, or express usefulness to man. 
The silent or separate powers of the 
Elements I ne'er sought to know ; or engage 
Them more fittingly ; or more excellence add. 
I did not seek to find my relation to the 
Vital powers, or the influence their lack 
Of harmony might have on my own being ; 
The beauty of nature viewed, but never thought 
To contrast its attractions with art of man. — 
No majesty saw in the terrors of the 
Gathering storm, but only beheld with dread 
The lightning of thunder as it denuded 
The lofty forest trees of beautiful boughs, 
And rifted the ancient rocks of the mountains ; 
Yet, in that there was beauty and majesty 
Supreme — Grandeur personified smil'd most sweet ; 
Elegance sublime, in perfect dignity, sat ; 
Her robes showing no waste or decaying signs, 
But, ever in pristine purity renewed — 
In the gloom of the gathering shades of night 
No loveliness saw, but felt its deepening weight ; 
While meloncholly sat, in the forest deep. 
Meditating on eternal gloom of night. 
Where my fore-fathers enter' d death's silent halls ; 
And I soon to be united with their shades. 
Yet, I dreamed of waking in a happy land 
Where the shades less heavy fall, or light obscure ; 
The hunter in endless chase the deer pursue ; 
Flowers indigenous, endless beauty spread 
In uncultured luxury, — Flora in health 
Most pure lived and smiled o'er nature's floral 

deep, — 
Fairest colors spread o'er a flowery sea 
And resplendent beams of sun through silvery 
Drops of rain a most beautious rain-bow spread. 
Here amidst these dazzling and endearing scenes 

191 



I lived and loved : My soul communed with all in 
Nature's light, — while my soul thus commun'd 

and loved 
My fancy led to scenes alike more dazzling 
And endearing, which much increasing my soul's 
Intrinsic values by neutriment divine. 

Unlearned in art or by science taught, — here I 
Saw life in ceaseless and eternal progress 
Rise in honor to God's majesty supreme ; 
And not unattended by an increasing 
Splendor of things with which the soul delighted 
To commune, and gave intellectual food. — 
And saw man, through the imbibing of the soul 
Immortal beauty, drink ; and in ecstacy 
Of soul into God's eternal grandeur sink. 

The tender plants I saw bitten by the frost ; 
The fair prospects of fruit saw untimely blighted ; 
And these with plants and fruits mature saw per- 
ish: 
In decay their beauty saw vanish ; their sweet 
Incense and odoriferous purity 
Saw in effluvium waste. Yet, nothing is 
Annihilated, — each principle to its 
Native state returns. Thus nature is renewed 
Continually and under heaven there 
Is nothing new or old, — the old is new made, 
But to grow old again. — The store from whence 
The ancients fed, I feast, and from the same 

cloth'd; 
And so to time's end must man be cloth'd and fed : 
From the same can that Nature first dipped her 

brush : 
And with her plastic hand , the ineffable 
Power of art, inimitable beauty 
Spread upon each leaf and flower to which 
Earth should give birth, — with selfsame colors in 

splendor. 
No less grown, the botanical fields are yet, 
And till this eternal chip waste, be arrai'd. 

192 



I loved nature's arts, and her magnificence 
Display' d admired from my inmost soul and heart : 
Though in natural science untaught by man — 
Unlettered as I was, could see the order 
Of things unifying at each step until the 
Works culminated in the Supreme Workman : 
Thus the universe a single unit forms 
Through which God the all inspiring Soul becomes. 

I saw,^ — in wonder and astonishment stood: 
How misterious — How grand — How beautiful — 
How glorious, and yet so perfect are the 
Eternal Works ! Nothing but gives usefulness, 
And through that usefulness perfect beauty forms. — 
How pure — How useful — How exact are they all 
While in the state where the Creator plac'd them. 

During many a pleasant day ; on hill top, 
Mountain slope, or in some delightful vale, my 
Drowsy limbs I basked in the sun's vernal beams. 
All nature saw come forth ; the genial streams. 
To welcome. In notes of rising sweetness, a 
Welcome sang to inspiring powers of wealth : 
All creature's vocal powers in jub'lant strains 
Their full volume pour'd to my inward delight : 
The youthful breeze of spring bore a healing balm ; 
Wiping from my life winters baleful story. 
I then resting free from disability 
Of body, mind or soul, lived 'lone in that day: 
Deep were joys of that day ; but transitory. 
Each day mutations brought, but only to keep 
Life's pleasures new and feed the soul's fancy — 
The most magnificent scenes when of times view'd 
Familiar grow and most dazzling powers lose : 
But, each return of those merry days welcom'd 
With new delight ; through the long days of winter 
My longing for their sweet return grew deeper ; 
And sometimes in winter's depth them liv'd anew. 

The season' s'change is life's ragout, it makes man 
Appreciate new nature's prospects re turn' d: 
Winter is time of Nature's digest ; Spring 

193 



When she assimilates anew food ready 

Made for summer, which autumn's intervention 

Return's as nature's food again, new prepar'd. 

I no music heard by art refin'd ; but as 
The creature felt so its song gave utterance : 
No science strove to classify broken tones 
Of human speech ; or with instrumental sound 
Bring it to accord ; or in harmony bind. 
While elegance and refinements attended 
Not my course, my felicity was not less 
Complete, than they in populous cities 
Dwell ; where all life's vanities claim an honor 
To some human pride ; or human passion due ; 
To such my life owed no debt, — or things unfit 
For life's use, through desire unnatural craved, — 
I ate my soul to refresh, and to preserve 
From waste my body ; I drank my thirst to slake, — 
But, not burden with unnecessary cares 
Life as it kept the course by nature designed. 
In summer, under shade of some lofty tree, 
I sheltered from power of the mid-day beam 
Of the melting sun at meridian splendor ; 
As I there, alike at home with beast and bird ; 
Lay ruminating, my musings were disturbed by 
The multitude of fishes that moved qui'tly 
In the pure waters of the beautiful brook 
Purling its devious course through mossy banks 
Hard-by-fringed by flowers of various hues. 
Enticed by the beauty of the prospects that 
Lay before me ; by the fragrance of bowers 
Enchanted ; and by the gentle breeze from the 
Brook, with odors most tenderly laden, sooth'd — 
While enjoying pleasures of prospects thus fair 
I sought to know why inhabitants of seas, 
Rivers and lakes were more numerous than the 
Fowls of air or the beasts of forest or field. 
In meditating called to mind the stories 
Of long ago as given my parents from 
Ancestors of old — how the earth was cover' d 

194 



With a flood of waters and all creatures 

Of earth and air were wast'd, save a few of each 

In an ark preserved ; while the inhabitants 

Of the waters were in no way diminished. 

The story believed because 'twas a legend 

Of ancestral merit ; but in this search 

Find an evidence that's unimpeachable. 

The sun of life had now reached its meridian 
Splendor and was sinking slowly, but surely down 
The western slope of life ; Deep and sober grew 
The years as they sank behind the western crags : 
Physical beauty and vigor grew alike 
Evanescent : The grinders one by one grew 
Dull and ceased : The shade fell heavier on the 
Window panes and the sight daily grew weaker : 
The things of my youth gradually disappear' d 
From life's scene, sinking under the mist of age. 
I well knew where my sun would set, but not when 
Or how. Well I knew this sun must rise again, 
But how ? A brighter star or smouldering flame ? 

I saw the worm pass into the June bug ; take 
Wing and mount upward in aerial flight 
To enjoy sweeter peace of etheral bliss. 
While in its sleep forgot terrestrial woes. 
Which were not resurrected in the higher life. 
The bug was the worm, but the worm wasn't the 

bug; 
It was the wonder mutation wrought. The worm 
Ceased and was no more ; the creature then put off 
The nature of the worm, and liv'd as a bug; 
So when this life will find its end the nobler 
Principles will shuffle off this mortal coil 
And in some form; and in some way may live 
again. 
I have seen the caterpillar grow from an 
Almost infinitesimal state into 
A well developed worm — loathsome creature : 
Saw the same creature of disgust hide away 
In some secret comer ; itself bandage well, 

195 



In textile art surpassing genius of man : 

There, through laws divine, the caterpillar change 

To a butterfly arrayed in colors bright ; 

On wing broad and sweeping migrate from tropic 

To tropic to sip the sweets of many a clime, 

And its fair plumage bathe in more radiant 

Lights of gold, so to always live in a clime 

To its nature congenial and sweetest day 

Productive. This question ask myself, was 

The felicity of the caterpillar 

Less perfect than the butterfly's? It was not. 

The caterpillar lived in realm congenial 

To its nature, and of things most loved feasted : 

The butterfly could have nothing more. What 

one 
Loved the other did not. Yet from the same 
Each taken its food ; but in a higher way 
The butterfly fed, — instead, the trees of their 
Beautiful foliage, depriving, but sipp'd 
From flowers nectar of morning dews distill' d. 
Then, before this body lives again, what great 
Changes shall it know ? The great Fore Parent will 
Such form of excellence give as pleases him : 
And of the same food we here delight to taste 
Feast, but in essence of ambrosial state. 

After the noon of life is past each wave or 
Blast of winter testifies of life's decline ; 
Each effort to discharge its duties speaks of 
The temple's fall and its last decay in earth. 
Nature is most exacting — nothing's given 
But 'tis required again — what earth nourishes 
Must to earth return — Earth to earth, dust to dust 
Is a law on this temple wall well inscrib'd, — 
Immutable and written indelibly 
By truth in day that creation's work begun. 
As you can read the departure of summer. 
Or approach of autumn in the cricket's voice : 
To pleasure bidding good-bye, — entreats autumn 
To stay his frost and snow till it finds a sure 

196 



Shelter in the bosom of mother earth from 

Ruthless hand of winter fast approaching; 

So can man from dolorous tones of nature 

Read his own decline, when the meridian 

Of life has cross 'd — to him the shades grow somber ; 

All scenes put on a slight aspect of mourning ; 

And man's soul, yet, in no gay mood, lives in pure 

Essence of deeper joy ; and instead of wild 

Plants lives in fields ripe with rich domestic fruits. 

All scenes familiar to my youth, or through their 
Associated influence howe'er wild 
To others seem, pleasures domestic to me 
Were, or to themselves had domesticat'd 
Me through time's long accustom'd hours of 
straying. 

Glory of nations, — excellency of kings, 
I knew not of — Vanity of men or pride 
Borrowed not my comforts to repay in sloth — 
Contentment was my goal, that by Nature's laws 
Found prescribed, temperance laws the moralist 

calls, 
Which the philosopher gives in Reason's Code-- 
While to know man need but study self and his 
Relation to all things observe and caution take 
To see the mandates are kept true as given. 
These, I grew close in observance of ; as 
The eastern bounds were receding and fading 
Fast in hazy distance of twilight of age : 
To each I clung with fondness of youth until 
It was with me no more, but forever gone : 
Sunk within the great gulf of f orgetfulness : 
My memory for it mourned, as a mother 
For her lost babe ; and with tears as bitter wept. 

The middle years of man are by far less dear 
To old age than are the hours of filial peace ; 
For old age is but youth travel'd in reserve. 
By same steps he ascends life's stage, must de- 
scend. 
Less permaturely hurl'd down uncertain flights. 

197 



By alike flight of steps all men enters life's 
Stage; and laws' re fixed prescribing their actions 

there, 
But, if not kept will soon vanish from that scene 
By a way not intended for man to go. 
Each year added deeper shades of twilight ; and 
The visions of my mind contracted to fields 
Of more narrow space ; my soul set on things of 
Deeper truths — with eternal facts commun'd my 
Mind, and called my heart to witness the musings : 
Ascended high summits of beautiful slopes 
In fancy's regions ; for a while lost myself 
In scenes f^ir as fancy's feet, in youth, e'er trod ; 
Only gathering shades of heavier tint 
To more consciously tell of my wasting years. — 
Grew more habitual in habits of life, 
As time sprinkled my temple with frost of age 
And silvered over the raven locks of youth. 
Like ancient grandeur of some noble city 
Sunk in mid-eval chaos,^it's majesty 
And excellency set brooding o'er ruin'd 
Structures, golden vases and pure marble walls 
Deep entered by earth and ashes in desert 
Or forest wild, lost to all save to it's own 
Majesty, a forgotten pile, — I brooding 
Sat on mountain crags ; or in some valley low. 
O'er my life secluded ; soon to sink in waste 
Obscure, save my spirit's own visitations : 
Or like the eagle, most noble bird of flight ; 
Under fallen crest cow' ring on tallest 
Forest bough, overlooking deepest scenes of 
Primeval solitude, — a more imposing 
vScene has never moved man's soul, touched his 

heart or 
Sublimer powers of greatness brush' d his brow ; 
So I sat, under the fallen crest of age. 
Overlooking, but not penetrating the 
Future solitudes, or sublimer myst'ries 
That lay silent beyond the close of life's day. 

198 



Pure and deep are laws of everlasting love ; 
More fair and bright are her fields achieved by 

fame, 
Where the spirit of peace in harmony moves 
With a mind that's ever sane — a heart by pure 
Devotion ruled, — waveless as the endless main : 
Yet, within my soul that peace is sometimes still, 
But, deep and strong are the emotions that roll 
Along the axis that's of infinite bound. 
When the inmost being of man is stirred with 
Love and devotion pure for The Eternal. 

Late in the evening of life my consort 
From me was taken ; eclipsing serenest 
Splendors of my fading light ; pouring deathly chill 
Over my soul ; drops of dew, by death distill'd, 
Stood heavy upon my weeping brow ; but soon 
To be congealed, by discontent of winter. 
Into arctic frost of age, to more hoar grow 
Through death's long silent wasteful hours of 

slumber. 
While to the claims of earth we gave her body ; 
And left hurried within that cold embrace, my 
Only cheer ; the one who had so often stood 
By my side in time of danger ; shared with me 
My toils ; clasp my hand in moment of vict'ry ; 
And in hour of adversity gave succor, — 
This question to myself address' d, shall we meet 
Again? To which eternity responded. 
In union unchanged, ye have lived ; the love which 
Bound you is to the eternal laws consistent ; 
And as the principles, which bound you, endure 
So shall you in union stand ; and when the shades 
Of death are passed, in sweeter union shall meet. 
All the scenes of life, whither in bereavement ; 
Moments of exultation ; or hours of toil. 
Closer knit our souls and bound with stronger cord. 

As I review the vicissitudes of life 
And its events ; Strange yet, true are the workings 
Of a hand unseen, which moves in silence, yet, 

199 



With precision most exact, to overthrow 

The wicked in their might : To a level just 

Bring them, and the pure of heart to a station 

High exalt. If man could but look into the 

Infinite exactness of Eternal Laws 

He would there see weighing ev'ry influence, 

And where they belong placing, till an event 

Most precise stands prominent as the result ; 

Though it be far from the result intended 

By the creature, who stands as the prime mover 

Visiable to mortal sight. — Force invisible. 

Though most evident in the gaining each goal, 

Disposes man's every proposition ; 

And prospers or wastes his prospects as is just. 

Unlearned in Heavenly visions as I was, 
Yet, could see rule of an all disposing hand 
Prevailing in each effort and work of man : 
Great and miraculous is work of that hand, 
Which unseen moves to wend its secret power, 
Disposing aright man's every purpose 
As the scale of eternal justice metes it. 
Then in me what could there be more wise than 

to set 
My affections on that Being Eternal ; 
To his disposal trust my ev'ry prospect; 
And, to his might supreme, consecrate my life? 
In each result rejoicing, knowing it true, 
Considering well the means and how employed. 
I have spent in holy communion, this life, — 
In the rising and setting of its sun I've 
Kept pure my inward source of light and its flame, 
Yet, glows unabated in first purity : 
None of Nature's gifts, I've lavishly wasted ; 
Or in luxurious pride delighted ; but 
In way as best I knew have served Nature true : 

As r'received this life, so I resign it ; 
And each to its realm consign my sev'ral parts ; 
Leave to the great Author and Finisher 
Of Nature to dispose as most pleases Him. 

200 



MEMORY 

In the sweet sunny south 'mong mountains rare, 

There is a haunt to me most fair ; 

It was not fashioned with beauty to glare, 

But its shades no pleasures doth spare. 

Oftimes through memory there I yet dwell, 
And sport anew with brothers I love well ; 
Repeat in youthful frolic and fun 
Old puns and games, which have long since gone. 

Sweet memory, thy branch is ever green, 
Fraught with return of pleasures now unseen ; 
Yet, for thee, when once past be forever gone, 
But through thee their sweet influence doth 
return : 

By thee we're enabled to live past again, 

And thus trace life as one continuous chain ; 

In few swift hours repeat pleasures of many a 

game; 
But to recall our cruel tricks with much regret 

and shame : 

Make past joys a healing balm for present pains. 
List to mother's lullaby with renew' d strains ; 
Recall a mother's cares, that with us had no claim, 
Yet, causes the fire of the soul to renew its flame : 

To mingle past, present and future into one ; 
Render sweetest of present and past the future's 

own: 
Thus an increasing volume of pleasure into the 

future rolls ; 
The history of past and present unite what future 

unfolds. 



201 



Destroy memory and the progress of the world 

will cease, 
It brings materials for life's monumental increase ; 
Serves as a guide that from evils of the past we 

may turn ; 
So enabling us a better and more sure course 

discern : 

Making the to-morrow free from ills of to-day, 
That each moment we may more godliness display — 
As we start forth into life on it our progress de- 
pends ; 
The use we make of time's fragments gives our 
standing with men. 

Memory's but a history within itself 

Recording how our past hours and days were 

spent ; 
Showing how acts from circumstances are made ; 
And proving how causes into events lead. 

Then, history is but a journal, which intends to 

state 
The condition of articles receiv'd by mental 

freight ; 
Also their number, as they in importance relate 
The progress or final destiny of some great state. 

To give the history of a nation is but to show 

By progressive science, the paths its inhabitants 

go; 
And by the principles, on which it took its stand. 
Prove its position 'mong the nations of the land ; 

Or bring to light the reality of its prides 
By tracing its beauty through scientific strides ; 
The customs and religion of the people see 
In the monuments of the Country which they 
leave. 

202 



It is easy to find, by the plants and trees that grow 
The harvest reap'd or the kind of seed farmers 

would sow ; 
From the condition of climate, it would be plain 

to see 
What the industrial pursuits of the people would 

be. 

To see the bloom of the peach, while yet on the 

tree, 
'Tis hard to tell of what character the fruit'U be ; 
Till it has ripen' d, we can't understand or see. 
Whether it will cling to the stone or be free. 

So in the relics of a nation, though to the heavens 

may lume, 
The customs and habits of its people will continue 

to bloom ; 
But, in this 'tis hard to read their hopes and fears ; 
Or know their rulers to be prophets or seers. 

In monumental glory the pride of a nation may 

live; 
In statuary gems devotion of its people may give ; 
In glowing colors paint the beauties of the land ; 
In the polish of art show the touch of the hand : 

But, the conditions under which the structures 

were rear'd. 
Must from counterfeit of imagination be clear'd 
By facts bearing evidence to the course that was 

stear'd. 
That same were in harmony with voice of rule there 

hear'd. 

And from these proofs be it faithfully observed, 
Whether the people's voice or another was served ; 
And by these prove the relics to be genius's bloom, 
Or they superstition and pride of kings presume. 

203 



Memory hath power to turn time's gray hairs 

black ; 
To strike from the bending form of age the crook' d 

back; 
But, not to stay the current in which nature flows 
To drift us far beyond the troubl'd wave of woes. 



THE OLD AND THE NEW 

Year, hke many thousands gone, thy knell is rung ; 
By tongues, which daily praised thee, thy dirge is 

sung; 
To thy close many lives have but linger' d through ; 
To many woeful hours, glad to bid adieu. 
Yet, within thy many merry chamber cells. 
Many a golden deed in secret there dwells, 
Serenely buried within its own deep grave, 
For which minds may delve and hearts may wish 

to lave 
Within the purity of its own silent wave ; 
To well extract its essence and beauty save : 
A gift invaluable to hearts that know 
The joy that from such silent impulses flow. 

Many are the events which must dwell with thee. 
Within thy faithful bosom rest full and free : 
Many and deep are the waves which roll beyond 
The first annual surge thou art built upon : 
Yet, many may be waves of incoming tide 
To cover deep with mist place where thou reside. 
Many beautiful monuments, thou hast built ; 
Many precious lives on thy peaceful shore spilt, 
Which succeeding time will note by columns tall ; 
While other years grow eventful by their fall. 

For ungrateful men, thou art marked deep with 
shame, 
But time is kind and will rid thee of that stain. 
The good will to the future rich fruitage bear, 

204 



While coming years will a nobler gift prepare. 
With deep regret, we note thy last sand is run, 
But welcome thy cheerful sister ready come. 
She comes to us in a bright and merry day. 
But we'll tell her not that she must speed away 
On time's broad swift wing, prolific with decay; 
Most relentless, even to the sweets of May. 

With the old year lies many vows made and broke, 
To which the incoming year may breathe new 

hope; 
And revive the hearts and souls that such vows 

made 
With power inspiring that'll not let them fade 
From their lives til they are well and truly kept ; 
Comforting the heart, that for their breaking 
wept. 
Thou, New Year, rich and pure with untainted 
light. 
Will but know thy existence, before a blight. 
From a ruthless hand, will rest upon thy sight ; 
And some foul creature proclaim that it is right 
For thee, an innocent and unspotted page, 
To be smeared and checkered o'er with such out- 
rage. 
Man, how beautiful would be the years that roll, 
If thy Maker but honor' d, kept pure thy soul, — 
What could there be, but an endless round of bliss? 
The new born sister press with a welcome kiss 
The lips of her honor' d sister timely ceased, 
With this injunction, wait my return in peace. 

Many and tender are the hearts that will lay 
Beneath the sod, before 'nother New Years' Day ! 
Many and beautiful are cheeks that will press 
The turf, which their own hands will for others 

dress. 
Deep, pure and sweet are the melodious lays, 
That will be sung during this years coming days : 
Loud and lamentable are voices that'll wail 



205 



For dear ones, whose lovely cheeks in death will 
pale. 
We should let our lives pass as a tale well told — 
Like time, in succession of years, must grow old. 



LOVE 



Love is light and beauty of the soul's bright sun, 
Flowing from that Being from whom all blessings 

come ; 
To make this human sphere a fertile plain, 
When water' d and nourish' d by crystal rain, 
That falls in a most gentle sooting strain 
In sympathetic strength for others pain : 
Thus causing the seed of virtue, which Heaven 

has sown, 
In this human soil, in full strength and power to 

bloom ; 
Free from the tar's troublesome rankling wrath; 
Seeking a cause against virtue to cast ; 
Its purity and sweetness of growth to blast. 
That its culture in human fields might not last. 

This human sphere's a garden of heav'nly soil, 
In which for man to live rejoice and toil ; 
Surrounded by atmosphere congenial to the 

growth 
Of either the flowers of virtue, or thistly sloth — 
The seed of good and evil both lay claim 
To flourish 'lone throughout this mortal plain, — 
Then, since conditions be like congenial to each, 
It depends on the conclusion that the keepers 

reach ; 
Whither this life shall be cumbered with fruitless 

growth. 
Or crowned with a fruit of purest heavenly worth. 
Truth's that principle of love symbolic of that 

beautiful heavenly blue, 

206 



Which e'er permeate this universe in all its parts 

most exact and true: 
As this world of flowers, in their many and varied 

hue, 
Is rendered most beautiful by the many shades 

of blue, — 
So lives and acts of men with generosity and 

gentleness bedews 
Social circles accordingly as this principle in their 

Uves diffuse. 
Purity's that principle of love emblematic of 

purest white, 
Which is neither color or refinement, nor neither 

is it light; 
That giveth no reflection, yet, 'tis never obscure 

from sight. 
Having power to claim fancy of the loftiest in 

their flight. 
Or to show itself in deepest ;in the stillest ; darkest 

night. 
White's that element in nature akin to both 

color and light, — 
Being neither, yet, from it all the powers of beauty 

flow, — 
Various shades and hues in nature from its influ- 
ence grow. 
The soul of man is that purity in human life. 
To give shade and coloring to all our acts and 

strife. 
The soul within itself is ever pure and clean. 
And so remains till tinctured by the foul and 

mean; 
Then, 'tis truly said, the temple wherein it dwells 

becomes unclean 
By reason of the wrong for which it must forever 

bear a stain: 
So against man judgment the Almighty did pro- 
claim ; 



207 



That he would not dwell in a temple foul and un- 
clean ; 
But, still through mercy would condescend 
To refit man for that better end 
If he would accept that eternal purity that from 

Him came; 
And aUke all other principles ever with Him pure 

and clean, — 
Which pervades this universe its influence to 

wend; 
Ever present with sin, yet, with sin it will not 

blend. 
By accepting that purity, which cannot, will not 

change. 
As the only balm to purge his soul from its woeful 

stain ; 
And to seal this hope in a way man's soul to win 
The comforter came to lead through this vale of 

sin 
To that land where transgression is sure slain. 
And its victims delivered to death's claim ; 
Returning each influence to the elements from 

which it first came, 
Just as hues of decaying flowers return to their 

colors again; 
Leaving each pure in itself and the soul again 

clean ; 
The Spirit then embalms perpetu'ly against stain : 
So when our mouldering dust be fashion'd into its 

'^ form again 
The spirit will unite the body and soul in life 

without pain. 
Unless the soul be so steeped and deeply imbrued 

with stain 
To leave nothing pure to consecrate to God's holy 

name, 
Then that soul has hope, eternal life to gain ; 
But, if all God'd accept be wast'd in disdain 



208 



To his holy laws for earthly pleasures or worldly 

fame, 
What then, can the reward of that soul be, but 

endless pain? 
If man's food be purely of the vegetable and the 

mineral line, 
'Twill only nourish those principles, which to 

humanity incline; 
Since in the veg'table and min'ral kingdoms there 

be no evil design 
To stain the soul of man or to darken any reflec- 
tion of his mind, — 
But, to establish him truly in strength with the 

approach of time ; 
Enable him the magnitude of humanity to do 

fine. 
Man was fashion' d from the earth by that same 

power 
That calls into life ev'ry leaf, bud and flower ; 
And their beauty moulded from the same clay from 

which man was form'd ; 
Possessing all the elements from which earthly 

man was bom. 
The soul of man's the harmonized elements of his 

earthly form; 
Set to action by the deep current of life, when 

pure, flush and warm, 
Which's heat'd and caus'd to flow by influence of 

a' rial power; 
Thus with the pure beauties of heavenly love, 

flush man and flower. 
When God, in his law to man, did his food define. 
He withheld from him no herb, fruit of tree or vine ; 
But of the living of earth and air, denominated 

foul and beast. 
It is especially specified to man of which to feast. 
Then God, who knows best, we must concede, — 
Has said flesh, man's hunger to appease. 



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Should be taken from the herbiverous class that 

graze; 
Distinguished by nat'ral features and natural 

ways. 

LIBERTY BELL 

In Old Liberty Hall hung a bell; 
Sweetest music 'twas destin'd to tell, 
And when its message tolled loud and free 
Its soul rifted deep from inmost glee — 
Rending wide the imperial veil ; 
With her purple rigging Freedom's sail, 
To plow the wave of no mystic sea, 
But alike the industrious bee, 
Direct her bark to no unknown cause ; 
On marble slabs gave constitut'd laws 
Deep engraved and well, with Freedom's pen, 
Inscribed upon hearts and souls of men. 
To Freedom's sons, yet, stands open wide; 
Pouring its music o'er purple tide. 
Deeply colored by the Nation's blood. 
Which' s augmenting wealth of Freedom's flood — 
Which inspired the patriotic soul 
To lay his limbs in the silent mould — 

Deeply inspiring are tones that float 
Soft like voice that to Elijah spoke ; 
Breathing confidence to faithful soul ; 
Speaking words rich with wealth of life's goal. 
That tongue spoke with no impious word. 
When its pure embosom' d truth out pour'd; 
The nation's speech in deep tones was heard 
Vibrating pure from the belfry height, 
Laden with essence of Freedom's light 
Floating soft on immaculate breeze. 
Declaring with ineffable ease 
The excellency of liberty; 
Glory of a nation's majesty. 

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Music's sweet strains each vibration toll'd, 

Spreading glad tidings from pole to pole ; 

On earth's east and westmost strand they met ; 

Touch' d each nation's heart, till cheeks were wet 

With deep streams of patriotic tears 

For its own thralldom, each heart yet wears. 

When that tongue proclaim' d Liberty's birth, 
The news serenely spread out the earth; 
And ne'er rested, but, in hearts most pure; 
From the will of traitors made secure, — 
Safe in precincts of life most holy. 
Found in the human heart most lowly ; 
Meekly bowing to truths low or high ; 
Each force opposing, strong to defy. 
Of America's rights prevailing 
That tongue well spoke ; of hearts assaiHng 
Wrongs, which tyrants had and would impose 
On their loyal subjects, not their foes. 
Souls that could live but in Freedom's air; 
In beauty of manhood strong and fair. 
Arose such flagrant wrongs to oppose ; 
Stood boldly for rights to transmit those, 
Who at their forest homes spent those days, 
By deep flowing streams, in childish plays, — 
In fields unnoted on page of fame. 
Yet, most deep inscribed was freedom's name 
In hearts that por'd their blood, life's sweet 

stream, 
O'er plains now verdant with living green — 
Fruits grow riper and fairer in soil 
Mark'd by Freedom's blood, — her scenes of toil. 

No soul, except a tyranic fiend ; 
Or cowardly wretch, most low and mean. 
Can breathe this air, or such music hear. 
Except in freedom's ranks, he'll appear. 
And bare his breast to the tyrant's spear, — 
No imperial, save God will fear. 



211 



TO A FRIEND 

I almost envy you your place of toil, 
Amid rare beauties of the virgin soil; 
Visited by pure limpid waters of a purling 

stream, 
Which testifies of Nature's love beneath the smil- 
ing green ; 
Where the sqirrel would live in sport along the 

mossy brink ; 
And with the wild bird partake of life's luxurious 

drink. 
Within that scene so sweetly blest, 
The birds 're playful and seem to rest 
Their lives in innocent love and faithful trust 
To Him who gave the beauty from out the dust : 
The glorious contentment, which smiles beneath 

those bowers, 
Is made an object lesson, most true, to these 
hearts of ours. 
The sunbeams steal among that foliage true 
To sip the freshness of the morning dew ; 
And mingle in that realm of constant peace. 
Where nature enjoys perpetual feast: 
And there you say the course of this life to you 
Is sad like the ev'ning shades of day's adieu: 
Yet, with you, I know there is a life of truth 
Holding communion with that sylvan proof; 
Spreading, about you, its pleasant shades ; 
Blessing the path where your spirit leads. 



TO A LADY FRIEND 

If time's wings may moulder to dust. 

Or truth decay by waste of rust ; 

If there be no test to try the weight of tears ; 

No sun to mark the varying course of years : 

Then my love for you may have only seem'd ; 

212 



May pass from my mind as a fading dream. 
But, since truth can know no waste, nor to false- 
hood incline; 
Nor its last be marked by etem'ty or close of time, 
So my affections for you'll bear as true a test 
When time will have folded her wings in ceaseless 

rest: 
My love for you be as a gath'ring day, 
When all things timely will have passed away. 
Two lives made precious through love, to that 
perfect Eye 
Should never, in doubt or fear, ask the question, 

" Why?" 
For two souls, lit by Truth to Love's highest, 

purest aim. 
Are like congenial spirits, — part'd to meet again. 



TO A LADY FRIEND AFTER VISITING 
HER HOME 

You are precious in my life, — 
No image of woe or strife, 
But a type of truth and love 
Gathering strength form above. 
In life you seem as pure as a budding flower ; 
Seeking innocent rest in a silent bower. 
Where nature may speak to the heart 
Of beauty through innocent art: 
The power of affection simple and true; 
Represented and expressed in all we view : 
Where shades seem pleasant because they're so; 
The birds sing sweetly when free from woe : 
With no object to present to the mind 
The woes and miseries of human kind; 
With all things pure like thy own heart's love ; 
True and faithful as the patient dove, — 
But, things, which are bom to act and not to 
speak, 

213 



From their example, we consolation take; 

For if they ever have sorrows, trials or woes, 

Such vexations and disappointments, no one 
knows. 

Then to see the motives from whence our actions 
rise; 

To find them equally true, it would us surprise ; 

For we cannot read them true from what they 
express. 

Unless we can know ev'ry fault through which 
they pass: 

Then let human frailties be buried 'neath reason 
deep 

And ever give the true course of life a constant 
sweep. 

To drift from our being things which faulter by 
decay; 

Leaving purer, deeper, patient deeds their con- 
stant sway: 

A happy state, then, will surely flow; 

Life no more speak of sorrowing woe. 

Your home must be a place of constant bliss, 

Where such passing pleasures are never missed ; 

But succeeded by new joys of their like; 

Such influence gend'ring day without night. 
Your mother, a guarding angel, seems to pass. 

Performing deeds and speaking words that e'er 
last ; 

And you to imitate,— conscious of her worth, 

Are striving to mould a life of lasting truth. 
Your father seems a devoted happy man 

Because of the support of your mother's hand: 

Guided by a mind of religious peace. 

Which flows full with joys that can never cease. 
Then, when we're apart let's not think of fault- 
ing love. 

But live constantly in that peace, which flows 
from God,— 



214 



Which Truth alone can join hearts to abide in 
peace ; 

Bidding doubt and superstition to fore'er cease. 
My love for you can never grow old, 

Less it be to waste my life and soul 

In affections consuming unquenchable flame, 

Which would prove that I have not loved you, 
but a name: 

That where I sought, your heart did not dwell ; 

But thing sought was but a magic spell. 

I, yet, believe your heart is in league with con- 
stant truth, 

And since I have sought it there, I will not know 
reproof ; 

But on truth's mansion find it there to please 

The heart and mind that seek that realm of ease. 



THE WAY 

Toil on, ye poor, be not dismayed, 

Look defiance boldly in face ; 
Discharge your duty in honest weight, 

And think to labor is no disgrace. 

The poor are they who preserve the world 
From the worship of the image gold; 

And teach man as ever of old. 
Human 'ty's a principle of soul. 

Then, can any man disdain his lot. 
Or feel he's not human, but a blot; 

Because a humble duty is his to discharge, 
And not other's woes to pity without regard? 

But, think, O man, your lot is great. 

Not all we do's decreed by fate ; 
But, that all who labor, justly to obtain. 

May sufficiently share all there is to gain. 

215 



We may each to our lot in life become reconciled 
By pursuing things of life as men and not a 
child; 

For how we pursue things that are, — 
The end we reach is just and fair. 

It seems rather hard for most men to reconcile 
Their minds to principles leading to higher 
clime ; 

But' re set to pursue things of less consequent, 
Than to reach the higher plain by slow ascent. 

There's a way to all things if man will pursue, 
Most clearly marked by principles just and true : 

That end we all may reach, if we strive to do ; 
And that clime we may know by its pleasant 
view. 



216 



NOV *ai ii§0§ 



